Climate matters. This page is a practical baseline. Confirm cultivar, local frost/heat conditions, mature size and regional restrictions before planting.
Garlic — Growing reference
| Scientific name | Allium sativum |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature for germination (°C) | 10–21.1 |
| First harvest or flowering (days) | 240–270 |
| Measured from | Transplant |
| Plant spacing (cm) | 15.2–20.3 |
| Mature height (cm) | 45.7–61 |
| Mature spread (cm) | 10.2–15.2 |
| USDA hardiness zones | 3–9 |
| Light | Full sun |
| Water | Moderate |
| Sowing method | Bulb |
Growing directions
Break bulbs into individual cloves and plant each 2 in deep, pointed tip up, in well-amended soil enriched with compost; hardneck varieties are better for cold climates while softneck types store longer. Mulch the bed with 4–6 in of straw after the ground freezes to insulate and prevent heaving. Snap off hardneck scapes in early summer to redirect energy to the bulb. Harvest when the lower 4–5 leaves have dried to brown but 5–6 green leaves remain, then cure in a shaded, breezy spot for 3–4 weeks.
Source and local conditions
Typical planning ranges from OpenPlantDB (CC0). Cultivar, climate, season and growing method can change these values. Confirm the seed label and local guidance before planting.
Source & verification
OpenPlantDB · CC0