How to Plant Garlic Bulbs

Overview

Known for its strong aroma, garlic is prized in the kitchen, especially in Italian dishes. Garlic is also a simple herb to grow. Experiment with garlic bulbs from your local grocery store or purchase one of the many varieties from a seed supplier or nursery. Garlic requires at least 8 months to reach maturity, so planting takes place in the fall for spring or early summer harvest. Garlic is a suitable edible plant for apartment gardeners since it grows just as well in a pot as it does in the ground.

Step 1

Fill a 12-inch container with nutrient rich potting soil or work compost into your outdoor planting bed for garden growing. Prepare to plant after the first frost of autumn.

Step 2

Peel off the paper-like skin on the outside of the garlic bulb. Pull apart the individual garlic cloves from the bulb to separate.

Step 3

Choose the largest cloves for planting. Larger cloves grow into larger bulbs. Save the small cloves for cooking.

Step 4

Dig a hole 2 inches deeper than the length of the clove. Set the clove in the hole pointed end up and cover with soil. Leave 6 inches between each clove when planting.

Step 5

Cover the soil with an organic mulch, such as straw. Mulch both garden beds and containers to protect against extreme cold, weeds and pests. Place containers outside after mulching.

Step 6

Keep the soil moist. Water only as needed to keep the bed or container from completely drying out.

Step 7

Harvest in the late spring after the leaves have begun to die back but there is still some green remaining on the plant--from mid-May into August depending on the variety. Dig the dirt away from around the garlic carefully to avoid damaging the bulb, then lift it from the soil.