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If you want to know how to plant garlic in fall, the first thing to know is that the window is short. Garlic goes in the ground a few weeks before it freezes, spends the winter growing roots, and is ready to dig the following summer. In central Indiana, that means now, not next spring.
This guide covers when to plant, which garlic to buy, the 7 steps to plant it, and what to do between now and harvest.
WHAT’S IN THIS GUIDE
When to Plant Garlic in Indiana
University of Illinois Extension says fall is the best time to plant garlic, about 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes. In central Illinois, which sits at about the same latitude as central Indiana, it says the ideal time is October through early November. Source: University of Illinois Extension — Garlic Goes in the Ground Now for a Savory Summer
Purdue Extension notes that you can plant garlic in early spring too, but fall planting is often easier, since spring soil is usually too wet to work. Garlic also needs a long season. It forms its bulbs as the days get longer in late spring, so a clove planted in fall has a big head start. Source: Purdue Extension — Plant Garlic This Fall
Bottom line: if you’re in central Indiana and the ground isn’t frozen yet, plant this week.
Hardneck vs. Softneck Garlic
Illinois Extension explains the two main types:
- Hardneck garlic grows a stiff flower stalk called a scape. It’s easy to peel and more winter hardy, but it doesn’t store as long.
- Softneck garlic stores well, but it doesn’t peel as easily. Source: University of Illinois Extension — How to Grow Garlic
For Indiana winters, hardneck is the safer choice because it handles the cold better. If you want garlic that keeps in the pantry until next spring, plant some softneck too.
How to Plant Garlic in Fall in 7 Steps
Step 1: Buy seed garlic, not grocery store garlic
This is where most first-timers go wrong. Illinois Extension says grocery store garlic is usually treated to keep it from sprouting, so it’s not a good choice for planting. Purdue also recommends buying garlic for planting from a garden center or mail-order catalog. Look for seed garlic labeled hardneck or softneck. This late in the season, a local garden center or nursery is your best bet, since you can plant it the same day. Each clove you plant becomes a whole new bulb next summer.
Step 2: Pick a sunny spot with good drainage
Illinois Extension recommends full sun and well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. Garlic sits in the ground all winter, so a spot where water puddles will rot the cloves. A raised bed is perfect. If you’re starting one, here’s how to build a raised garden bed, and our raised bed soil calculator tells you how much soil to buy.
Step 3: Mix in compost and fertilizer
Work a few inches of compost into the top of the bed. Illinois Extension also recommends 2 to 3 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer per 100 square feet before planting. Our compost calculator works out how much compost you need for your bed.
Step 4: Break the bulbs into cloves right before planting
Illinois Extension says to split the bulb into individual cloves right before you plant and to keep the papery skin on each clove. Plant the biggest cloves. Illinois says the largest cloves give you the best yields. Use the small ones in the kitchen.
Step 5: Plant pointed end up, 1 to 2 inches deep
Here’s how to plant garlic in fall the way Illinois Extension recommends:
- Set each clove with the pointed tip facing up and the flat root end down.
- Plant it 1 to 2 inches deep.
- Space cloves 4 to 5 inches apart, with 15 to 18 inches between rows.
- In a raised bed or a block, space them about 5 inches apart in all directions.
A small hand trowel or even a dowel works fine for making the holes. Firm the soil over the top and water it in.
Step 6: Cover the bed with 4 to 6 inches of straw
Mulch is what gets your garlic through an Indiana winter. Illinois Extension recommends a layer of weed-free straw or other organic mulch 4 to 6 inches deep. Bagged straw covers a lot less ground at this depth than the coverage on the bag suggests, so plan on more than one bag for a full-size bed, or pick up a straw bale at a garden center. It keeps weeds down and evens out the soil temperature.
Illinois also notes that straw keeps the cloves from frost heaving, which is when the ground freezes and thaws and pushes them up out of the soil. Shredded leaves work too, and they’re free. See our guide on how to winterize garden beds for more on covering your beds for winter.
Step 7: Keep it evenly moist until the ground freezes
Illinois Extension says to keep the soil evenly moist. Water when the top inch is dry, but don’t keep it soggy. Once the ground freezes, you’re done until spring.
What to Do Between Now and Harvest
Knowing how to plant garlic in fall is half the job. Here’s what comes next:
- Feed it in spring. University of Maryland Extension recommends fertilizing before planting in fall, again in April, and, if needed, in late May. Source: University of Maryland Extension — Growing Garlic in the Home Garden
- Weed carefully. Maryland notes garlic has shallow roots, so pull weeds gently instead of digging around the plants.
- Cut the scapes. On hardneck garlic, Illinois Extension says to remove the curly flower stalks as they appear. Leaving them can reduce your harvest by about 25%. Maryland notes you can use the scapes in the kitchen like green onions.
- Water less near harvest. Maryland says to water less often as harvest gets close, to avoid disease.
- Harvest when about half the leaves have turned yellow or brown. Illinois says that’s usually late June or early July. Lift the bulbs gently with a garden fork instead of pulling them by the stems.
- Cure before you store. Maryland says to dry the plants with the tops on, in a spot with good airflow and out of direct sun, for 7 to 14 days. Then trim the tops and roots and store the bulbs somewhere cool, dry, and dark.
New to growing your own food? Garlic is one of the easiest things you can grow. Here are more of the easiest vegetables to grow for beginners.
Frequently Asked Questions About Planting Garlic
When should I plant garlic in Indiana?
October through early November, about 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes. If the ground isn’t frozen yet, it’s not too late.
Can I plant garlic from the grocery store?
It’s not a good idea. Grocery store garlic is usually treated to keep it from sprouting. Buy seed garlic from a garden center or a seed company instead.
How deep should I plant garlic?
1 to 2 inches deep, with the pointed end facing up. Space the cloves 4 to 5 inches apart.
Should I plant hardneck or softneck garlic?
Hardneck is more winter hardy, so it’s the safer choice in Indiana. Softneck stores longer. Many gardeners plant some of each.
Do I need to mulch garlic over the winter?
Yes. A 4 to 6 inch layer of straw keeps the cloves from being pushed out of the ground as the soil freezes and thaws, and it keeps weeds down in spring.
When is garlic ready to harvest?
When about half the leaves have turned yellow or brown, usually late June or early July. Dig it up gently with a garden fork and let it cure for 1 to 2 weeks before storing.