Moisture range
25–45%
Days to maturity
240–280
Light
Full sun
Growing Degree Units
1650 · base 40°F
When to plant garlic in your zone
Indoor-start, transplant and harvest dates calibrated to your climate.
Growing notes
UMN Extension ↗Garlic grows best in well-drained, moisture-retentive soil and requires planting cloves in the fall, usually one or two weeks after the first killing frost.
Harvest signs
UMN Extension ↗Begin harvesting when the lower leaves turn brown and when half or slightly more than half of the upper leaves remain green
▶Planting reference— Depth, spacing, pH, light
▶Pests & diseases— onion maggot, aster leafhopper, bulb mites, aster yellows
Common pests · 3
Common diseases · 1
Aster yellows: causes premature dieback of garlic leaves and discolored, smelly bulbs ↗
Companions & antagonists
Plant near:TomatoPepperLettuce
Keep apart from:BeansPeas
Tip: Fall-planted (Sep–Nov) takes ~9 months for a summer harvest. Spring-planted cloves (Mar–May) skip winter dormancy and finish in 3–5 months.
Common questions
How much water does garlic need?
Garlic is water-sensitive — shallow roots and a steady thirst. Keep soil moisture in roughly the 25–45% range and don't let it dry out fully, or growth stalls and leafy crops turn bitter.
Can I grow garlic in a raised bed or container?
Yes — garlic does well in raised beds and is happy in a decent-sized container too, as long as drainage is good.
Does garlic come back every year?
No — garlic is an annual. It completes its life in one season, so you replant it each year.