Garlic (Fall)
Quick Garden Tips
- Garlic is grown from cloves, not seeds. It is easy to grow—great for beginning gardeners.
- Plant cloves so that the pointy tip—where the sprout comes out—is facing upward.
- Space cloves 4 inches apart.
- Fertilizing garlic helps bulbs reach full size. Add fertilizer about 2 to 4 inches from the side of the stem (also known as ‘side dressing’) in early spring, and then again as the day length starts to increase in May.
- Although you can try planting garlic cloves from the grocery store, these have often been treated so that they won’t sprout new growth. Instead, plant cured garlic cloves from a local nursery, or that you saved from last year’s garlic crop.
Season and Location
- Garlic is a great crop to grow over the winter.
- Plant garlic cloves in in a location that gets full sun.
- Plant in soil with good drainage.
Container Gardening
- Garlic can be grown in a container that is at least 8 inches deep.
- Make sure your container has small holes near the bottom to allow water to drain.
How to Roast Garlic
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
- Slice the top off a garlic head, keeping the papery layers on. Lightly drizzle the head with oil and season it with salt and pepper.
- Wrap the head in foil and place it on a pan.
- Roast the head for 40 minutes until it is soft and golden.
- Set it aside to cool. Squeeze the garlic from the cloves to use in cooking.
When to Plant and Harvest Garlic in Oregon
- Central and Eastern Oregon: Plant September through mid-November to harvest late May to early July.
- Willamette Valley: Plant September through mid-November to harvest late May through late July.
- Coast: Plant September through October to harvest late May through late July.
Recommended Types to Grow
Softneck
Full grown bulb has a soft neck with larger cloves around the outside and smaller cloves in the middle. Leaves can be braided after curing. Strong flavor. Stores well. Types to try: Inchelium Red*, Silver Rose*, Silverskin
Hardneck
Full grown bulb has a stiff central stem with a single ring of large cloves around it. Central stem curls into ‘scapes’ as it grows. Mild flavor. Cloves are easy to peel. Types to try: Dujanski, German Porcelain*, Killarny*, Korean Red*, Siberian, Spanish Roja*
* Good for Central/Eastern Oregon
When and How to to Harvest
- Harvest bulbs in June or July when half of the leaves are yellow and drying out.
- To harvest, loosen the soil around the stem, then pull the garlic up by the stem. Shake off excess dirt.
Storage and Cooking
- After harvesting, spread garlic out in a shady, warm, dry area with good airflow for 2 to 3 weeks to ‘cure’ for better storage. Finally, trim off the roots and leaves close to the bulb and wipe off loose dirt.
- Store garlic in a dark space with good airflow. Well cured bulbs can be stored for months, or can be used to plant next year’s crop.
- Garlic adds flavor. Use it in soups, stews, casseroles, pasta sauces, salad dressings, marinades and more.
- Roast whole heads of garlic to spread on bread or crackers. See the recipe on the other side of this page.
- Try this Food Hero recipe: Garlic Bok Choy
This piece is part of the collection
Guides for beginning gardeners