Garlic · last checked 2026-09-27
When to plant and harvest garlic: timing and spacing
Garlic runs on a different clock from most of the garden. It needs a cold spell to form bulbs, so it goes in during fall and comes out the following summer. The timing here counts back from when the ground freezes, not from the last spring frost. The bulbs come up as the leaves turn yellow; the harvest lines below say how much yellowing each service waits for.
Each line below names the Extension service it comes from and links to their page. Clove spacing differs between services, so all of them are listed.
When to plant
- Illinois Extension says fall is the best time: plant 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes so cloves root before winter dormancy. Planting and Growing Garlic (info sheet, PDF) · checked 2026-09-27
- Illinois Extension says early spring planting can work, but only after the cloves have spent about 8 weeks in the refrigerator to get the chill they need to form bulbs. Planting and Growing Garlic (info sheet, PDF) · checked 2026-09-27
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says garlic has to be planted in fall to develop fully; plant early enough, since leafy growth stops once bulbs start forming as spring days lengthen. Onion, Leek, Shallot and Garlic (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27
Spacing
- Illinois Extension says cloves go pointed tip up, 1 to 2 inches deep and 4 to 5 inches apart, in rows 15 to 18 inches apart. Planting and Growing Garlic (info sheet, PDF) · checked 2026-09-27
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says the larger outer cloves go upright, about an inch deep and 3 to 5 inches apart, with 12 to 24 inches between rows. Onion, Leek, Shallot and Garlic (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27
Harvest
- Illinois Extension says to dig when the plants die back and about half the leaves have yellowed, usually June to July there; waiting too long risks rotten bulbs. Planting and Growing Garlic (info sheet, PDF) · checked 2026-09-27
- Clemson Cooperative Extension says bulbs are ready when the leaves start to yellow in early summer; cure them for two to three weeks somewhere warm, shaded and airy. Onion, Leek, Shallot and Garlic (HGIC fact sheet) · checked 2026-09-27
Further reading
- Vegetable Gardening in Oregon (EC 871) (Oregon State University Extension). Link only: we no longer quote this page.
Unless a line says otherwise, weeks are counted from the average last spring frost where you live. Find that date through your state’s Extension service. See how these pages are put together.
Other crops: Blueberry, Broccoli, Okra, Potato, Pumpkin, Strawberry, Sweet potato, Tomato.