Planting garlic is one of life’s great joys. That wasn’t a joke. It’s up there with getting married, buying a house and having babies.
In fact, planting organic garlic cloves is similar to financial investing. You plant mid-October all the way up to Halloween and reap rewards in July when you least expect it. Your Halloween costume will have to wait!
Some of you in warmer climates might have up to November 30th or so to plant.
It’s that thrilling.
But you can’t plant garlic unless you have cloves to plant. Relax. You still have about a month to acquire organic garlic cloves to plant.
So today I want to talk about how to get garlic and what to do with those cloves until you are ready to plant.
And there are rules for planting organic garlic cloves if you want to guarantee a slam-dunk success!
Here’s how to get it in the ground right before the frost sets in.
Why plant garlic?
Plant garlic because it’s delicious. Nothing beats savoring the fresh flavor of garlic. Chopped or minced garlic adds so much life to a plethora of dishes. Truly, the life spice of life.
Fresh tomatoes with fresh garlic and basil chopped up with olive oil over pasta. Yes please!
And if you haven’t eaten garlic scapes, you haven’t lived. Garlic scapes taste like green beans with just a hint of garlic flavor. They are absolutely delicious steamed or sauteed with a little butter or olive oil.
Not only do you eat the bulb, but you eat the stalks of the plant. Waste not with garlic!
Moreover, the nutritional benefits of garlic are numerous. Garlic is famous for its antibiotic properties reputedly helping everything from cancer to the common cold. It’s certainly worth a shot!
Why organic garlic cloves are best to plant
The last thing you want to do is head to the local grocery store, buy garlic and use those cloves as seed to plant.
Grocery store garlic bulbs have most likely been treated with a growth inhibitor chemical. Being treated means it won’t sprout even if you do attempt to plant the cloves.
No sprouts means no roots. So essentially you’re working for nothing. The cloves will rot into the ground.
If you must go the grocery store route having no other options, at least buy from a reputable store like Trader Joe’s. Make sure it’s organic. You can also check out Amazon which has a few options.
Quality is paramount with garlic. You get what you pay for. You absolutely don’t want to plant any seed or clove that have been sprayed or treated with any pesticide.
Your best option for buying organic garlic cloves to plant is from a local roadside produce stand, farmer’s market or a home gardener selling their surplus. And you can’t loose planting your own harvested bulbs!
Best of all, most home gardeners don’t spray their garlic with any pesticide or harsh chemicals since few pests attack garlic.
How-to get garlic
There’s a local roadside stand about an hour away from my home that I hit up when our family heads to the country.
Pete’s stand sells humongous bags or broccoli for $2. I can’t grow it that cheaply!
But his garlic is priceless. As a general rule if you can purchase garlic bulbs for 75 cents to a dollar each, you win.
Pete sells garlic in pints and you get 6 decent sized bulbs for $3.50. So roughly 58 cents each. Can’t beat that for fresh, organic and non-sprayed garlic.
Out of the 6 bulbs, 2-3 are big enough to use for planting and I’ll eat the rest.
When purchasing garlic individually, buy the biggest bulbs you can find! If you have to stop at several roadside stands, so be it. It’s worth it.
And if you do have any questions, you can always ask the seller directly if their garlic has been sprayed.
Maybe it’s time for you and your family to take a ride out into the country! Get some squash and pumpkins while there!
Big garlic cloves versus small garlic cloves
It’s almost always true that a bigger bulb will have bigger cloves (seed) sheltered inside them to plant. Bigger is better, you know this!
Bigger cloves produce bigger bulbs the following year. So you want to plant the bigger cloves as seed and eat the small ones.
Each bulb has various sized cloves inside it with some being much bigger than others. Three to four cloves will be big enough to plant. The rest? Eat them!
In my experience, most bulbs will harbor 5-10 cloves inside to sort into planting and eating piles.
Be careful when peeling apart the bulbs not to damage or nick the cloves, if you do, they may not grow. Especially if you cut the blunt end where the roots will eventually form. No good!
Don’t waste your time planting tiny cloves. They will still grow but the bulbs will be tiny. So when harvest time comes, you’ll be fighting tiny bulbs. Not much to eat and nothing to plant. Super hard to chop up. A vicious cycle.
Separating garlic cloves
After you’ve harvested your garlic, wash them thoroughly and dry them prior to planting.
For purchased roadside stand garlic, if they are not washed, you’ll want to do so to get all the excess dirt and grime off.
After the bulbs have dried, peel apart those bulbs to see what you’ve got for planting purposes!
Hopefully at lest 3-4 cloves will be big enough to plant, especially out of the bigger bulbs.
When purchasing garlic to plant, you need to know how many bulbs you’re hoping to harvest the following summer.
Each clove will produce its own bulb the next year. Plant 10 cloves, get 10 bulbs. It’s that simple. Plant only 5 cloves, get only 5 bulbs.
If you want enough garlic to eat, plant, and share with neighbors, I’d plant at least 20 cloves if you have the space! Have you seen those recipes on Pinterest for roasted chicken that require 20 fresh garlic cloves!
Until you are ready to plant, you’ll want to lay those garlic cloves in a cool, dry place. A cardboard box is a great place. Your basement or sheltered porch area in the shade will work.
Planting cloves can not touch. Organic garlic cloves should always be stored in single layer. When they are 100% bone dry, you can toss them into a box until you plant.
Don’t separate your bulbs into cloves until you are ready to plant, with 2-3 days leeway. This will give them time to dry so they don’t rot.
Happy planting!
Will definitely think about adding these to the garden. Wondering if you need to separate them from other vegetables to avoid garlic flavored veggies?
great info
I love garlic and plan to grow it here now that I am in TN I grew it in WI but I think it will thrive here too…….Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the very onformative post. I never really though about planting my own garlic.
I’ve got some that I am going to plant soon! Great tips for doing so!
I love garlic. I’m lucky to have a friend who plants and shares with me.
I like what you have to say about garlic, thanks for the information
Love Garlic thanks for the info I thought it would be more complicated .
Learned some stuff with garlic
I am in love with garlic!! Yummy! Seems to keep the vampires away! Hahaha! Just in time for Halloween!
They look good fresh out of the ground. I’ve never tried growing them before. Thanks for posting!
I love fresh garlic, I don’t know why I have never tried to grow it. Well next year for sure!! I use so much of it I should be growing it.
great info, thanks you
Very informative! Garlic and grape leaves are must haves for my dill pickles.
Thanks for the idea
Awesome article. Will plant some indoors and see how it goes
I eat a lot of garlic and it seems easy to grow.
Love the information. I will use it !! Thanks!
Very informative, definitely going to pin this for later.
Great giveaways
No offense to anyone else, but I despise garlic.
garlic is the one crop I’ve had multiple years of success with
Thanks for the tips. Can’t have enough garlic and great to grow your own.
My dad grows garlic every year, the hardneck red variety with lots of flavor. I’m always sad when we run out and have to rely on supermarket garlic.
Growing your own garlic is much better than store brought.
I love garlic and never thought about planting it. Hmmm. May try. Thanks much.
Great tips! I just love garlic!
who knew it was so easy.
I never grew garlic and I plan to do it! Great instructions and tips!!
i love garlic my bf says way too much lol
I use garlic all the time. I will definitely have to plant some next year.
Thank you for the heads up that garlic planting time is near, as I want to get some in the ground this year. And, as I’ve never tried eating the scapes, that’s an experience I’m looking forward to this coming year. Thank you for the informative article and tips as well. May we All be Blessed with Many Big Cloves!
Thanks I needed this
I think we can do this! Thanks!
My neighbor always grew the biggest garlic I have ever seen. He shared it with our whole neighborhood. Now he is moving so I am going to have to grow some myself.
We grow our own garlic
I don’t know if i could grow garlic where i live
We love garlic! Thanks for sharing.
I love garlic! I grow the elephant garlic. I want to grow other kinds too.
I love garlic! Thanks for the info on how to plant it.
I have not grown garlic for years. I never seemed to get the large cloves, but I am really not sure why I stopped. Something I should think about again.
Is it easy to plant it? I really love to try it
I’ve have a garden where garlic, without even planting showed up! I ended up with some beautiful plants and harvested this year. The best garlic I have ever had!
Hadn’t thought about this. But something to consider.
Definitely worth a try, just to see how it goes. Easy to get at farmer’s market if it doesn’t work out.
Great info. I love garlic!
I use so much garlic I should be growing it myself.
Garlic is a necessity for my meals easier to grow than buy.
Nothing beats home grown
I’ve always wanted to try growing my own garlic. I might give it a try. This might be something the deer won’t get.
Garlic adds so much flavor so would like to try
I use garlic for so many different things
We’ve already had our first frost…guess there’s always next year.
I love garlic. Might just give this a try.
I don’t really have a place to plant garlic, but this is great to know in case I ever find a spot and want to give it a try!
I use garlic on pretty much everything. I have never tried growing it but will have to give it a try.
I’ve never grown garlic but think I will next year.
I love garlic and will be planting this next season. Thank you for the tips.
Love using garlic in my cooking. It makes for delicious dishes from a variety of cultures.
I’ve been wanting to plant some garlic and this is so easy!
cheepest I found was organic bulbs on a market sidestand for $1
I will be starting a hydroponic garden next month! Have never tried regular garlic plantings before, but will now investigate whether garlic is a good candidate for hydroponics!
I miss having a vegetable garden. There is no room at my new house. maybe someday.
I love planting my own garlic! So rewarding!
Great ideas!
I never knew why mass merchandise stores put out garlic to sell in the spring when we usually plant it in the fall to grow all winter and harvest in the spring. Thanks for sharing such great info!
I love your site! So many good ideas and information!
Garlic is one of my favorite things to grow here in VA!
My middle daughter loves garlic! I’ll tell her to read this post.
Great tips
have to try now
I haven’t tried planting grarlic yet. I really should plant some next year!
Garlic is a favorite of ours! Thank you for this informative & educational blog posting! 🙂
I haven’t really considered growing garlic, but this definitely good info to know.
Wow…I think I now know why I haven’t been successful in growing garlic. Thanks for the info!
Such an interesting article. Garlic isn’t something I’ve ever considered growing but I just might give it a try now.
I don’t know why I have never tried growing garlic!! I use so much of it and love it.
great info
I tried these in a container but did not get a successful harvest. Haven’t managed the correct planting times yet and cloves were a gift. First attempt came up but lost the battle of hot Southern summers. Second attempt was started late but I also suspect my cloves had dried out too much.
Need to try again and plant in the ground. Going to bookmark this.
rule of planting garlic same as cooking with it? Always twice as much? 🙂
I will try growing garlic next year!
I want to try this next planting season…can’t wait!
I really need to do this
I’ve never really thought about planting my own garlic. The article was very informative and I can’t wait to try planting garlic for next season!
Love your posts!
I love garlic and have grown it several seasons
Love growing our own garlic!
Love garlic! I live in South Florida – will garlic grow here?
My little family loves garlic!
Thanks for the Awesome information!
thank you for the chance to win the pumpkin
Tysm for the information & sharing!
After reading your post, you have now given me the incentive to plant my own garlic. I’m Italian and of course I cook with a lot of garlic so planting garlic versus buying it makes so much more sense! Thank you for the tips! I’m excited to try this project now. Happy harvest!
Garlic adds so much flavor to most dishes, but I wouldn’t suggest any in chocolate pudding!
I like garlic too. My husband does all the planting here.
Love garlic…I need to grow some.
👍
I’ve been wanting to get started with garlic… Maybe this will be my push!
Thank you for this info!
LOVE Garlic!!
I think I’m going to give garlic a try this fall!
Garlic is so misunderstood! People think it has a strong taste & smell but when you roast it with olive oil it is so sweet and creamy.
Garlic is so misunderstood! People think it has a strong taste & smell but when you roast it with olive oil it is so sweet and creamy.
I’ve never considered planting garlic. Thanks for all of this information.
I am going to plant garlic next year.
I haven’t yet planted garlic but may after reading this post! Thank you! Lisa
Love onion hate garlic.
I love, love garlic. Maybe I’ll try planting them again and hope that my lawn guys don’t pull it out again!
I can’t live without garlic! This is a must read for all things garlic.
I can’t believe I’ve never thought to plant garlic – what a great idea~
I love garlic also…. and it’s good for you. eat enough, and you can keep people away from you for up to 3 days! lol
Wow, so much great info. Makes me want to try it. Thanks.
thanks for the info
Love fresh garlic and growing all of my own herbs!
Garlic is so good for getting toxins out of our bodies.
I love garlic. It’s a food group in this household!
Great information. I really had never thought that planting garlic would be so easy and practical. We use an enormous amount of garlic and now I believe it’s time to do this.
Great idea!
I am planning to grow some next year
I love garlic but have never tried planting my own. I do have tons of tomatoes though. lol
I will have to give it a shot.
Love Garlic and it is so good for you .
I love cooking with fresh garlic!
I use a lot of garlic and love it. This gives me an idea of how I can grow my own. Thanks so much.
I’m so excited to learn about fall planting! Living in a cold state I didn’t realize I could do this!
I love garlic and use it in a lot of my meals.
Wow, can’t wait to plant some garlic! We go through quite a few bulbs and jars of garlic every year!
I don’t know what I would do without garlic, it goes in so many of my recipes.
I will have to add this to my garden next year, we use garlic all the time!
I need to try this.
I learned so much from this post on planting garlic and fully intend to try this! I’d LOVE to be able to grow my own and would definitely plan to grow a good bit to allow for a bit of trial and error and hopefully end up with enough extras to share. Thanks for the fabulous info!
I love to learn to grow not sure whether it is easy
Great post!
Tomato or Tomatoe… garlic or Garlic?
We love garlic in our house! We will have to add garlic to our garden.
love this!
Great tips! Thank you
Garlic is a Stupendous magical natural healer
Garlic is easy to grow here. Our family uses in many dishes. It is a healthy choice.
I learned a lot about planting garlic from this article. I wasn’t sure if garlic can survive over the winter months if left in the ground. Still wondering how many months between planting and harvesting.
We love garlic but where we live isn’t really conducive to growing it.
Thank you for the tips! Garlic is one of my favorite things, but I’ve never tried to grow it before 🙂
I love growing garlic. It’s really very simple, and the results are fantastic!
I love garlic, but have never planted my own.
I love garlic and growing it is so easy!
Garlic makes most Dishes taste so much Better. I use it alot
I am going to plant some
Fresh garlic is amazing!
Garlic is a staple seasoning in our home. Growing it would be such a useful idea! I don’t know how well it would fair in Our red dirt soil though.
I love fresh garlic.
I eat garlic on everything! Love it! Thanks for the info