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How to Grow Garlic

 

A Complete Guide from Shipwrecked Garlic Co.

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🌿 1. When to Plant Garlic

  • Ideal Timing: Plant garlic about 6 weeks before the ground freezes. In northern regions like Ohio, this means mid-October. Southern growers can plant later.

  • Late Planting? No problem. Garlic is hardy and can be planted into frozen ground if necessary. Just mulch well.

  • Early Planting? Planting in late September can give garlic a head start with strong root growth.

  • Spring Planting? It’s possible, but bulbs may be smaller. Refrigerate cloves for 40 days to simulate winter.

 

🪧 2. Garlic Fertilization Soak (Optional but Recommended)

Why Soak?

  • Reduces disease

  • Boosts root development

  • Promotes larger bulbs

How-To:

  1. Separate cloves

  2. Soak in sterilizer (e.g., alcohol or hydrogen peroxide) for 10 min

  3. Rinse and soak in fertilizer solution (fish emulsion, kelp, garlic fertilizer + 1 tsp baking soda per gallon)

  4. Soak 30 minutes to overnight (max 3 days)

  5. Plant as usual

 

🌾 3. Planting Instructions

  • Plant cloves 3" deep and 6–9" apart, tip up, root down

  • Cover with 1" of soil

  • Water lightly if needed

 

🍃 4. Mulching Garlic

  • Use 3–6 inches of straw, chopped leaves, or grass clippings

  • Helps with:

    • Winter protection

    • Weed suppression

    • Moisture retention

  • Leave mulch on until harvest (unless fungal issues arise in wet springs)

 

🌱 5. Spring Garlic Care

  • Fertilize early with nitrogen-rich organic fertilizer

  • Stop fertilizing before garlic scapes emerge

  • Weed consistently to reduce competition

  • Water ~1" per week, taper off a few days before harvest

 

🌿 6. Garlic Scapes

  • Remove when scapes begin to curl

  • Snap at the base with your fingers

  • Increases bulb size

  • Scapes are edible — use them in pesto, sautés, and more!

  • ~40–50 scapes = 1 lb (varies by variety)

 

🌿 7. When to Harvest Garlic

  • ~3–4 weeks after scapes are removed

  • Harvest when:

    • 4–5 green leaves remain

    • OR 50% of leaves have browned

  • Test harvest: bulbs are firm, defined, and clove wrappers are forming

 

💧 8. Stop Watering Before Harvest

  • Water lightly as bulbs size up

  • Stop watering 5–7 days before harvest

  • Too much water = risk of rot and shorter storage life

 

🌿 9. How to Harvest Garlic

  1. Loosen soil gently with a garden fork

  2. Pull bulbs by hand

  3. Brush off excess dirt

Handle gently — garlic bruises easily and damage shortens storage life

Optional Cleaning:

  • Remove lowest green leaf within 1 hour

  • Trim leaves to leave 6–9" of stem

  • Air dry immediately

 

🚨 10. How to Cure Garlic

  • Cure in a shaded, airy place for 3 weeks

  • Use fans for airflow

  • Bulbs are done curing when stems are dry and papery

Preferred Method (by Shipwrecked Garlic Co.):

  • Remove one green leaf at harvest for cleaner bulbs

  • Trim tops and brush roots

  • Lay flat or hang with airflow

 

🏪 11. How to Store Garlic

  • Store whole bulbs in a cool, dark, dry place

  • Ideal temp: 35°F to 55°F with 40–60% humidity

  • Best options:

    • Mesh baskets

    • Paper bags

    • Wooden crates

  • Avoid plastic bags or sealed containers

Refrigeration:

  • Okay for long-term storage

  • Store in a paper bag in the crisper drawer

  • Expect sprouting when removed from cold

 

In the South?

  • Refrigerate garlic for 40 days at 40°F to trigger vernalization before planting

Sprouted Garlic? Still edible! Sprouts are packed with nutrients.

 

🔄 12. Long-Term Garlic Success

  • Handle bulbs gently at harvest

  • Cure thoroughly

  • Store with airflow

  • Choose the right varieties for storage

For more garlic growing and storage tips, recipes, and products keep an eye on our social pages or reach out to us directly!

 

Grow bold. Grow Shipwrecked.

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