Planting Garlic in the Fall

By Lori Anderson, Master Gardener

September 2023

Growing garlic is so easy and gratifying! But you need to start in early fall. Here’s how to do it.

1. Buy garlic from a local nursery (or mail order, if time permits), not from a grocery store, to ensure that you are growing garlic for Minnesota.

2.  Plant soon after the first hard frost in full sun, where no onions, garlic or leeks were planted in the previous three years.

3. Divide into cloves 1-2 days ahead, and select the largest cloves.

4. Plant flat (root) end down so the bottom is 2-3 inches below ground. Space cloves 3 to 4 inches apart in double rows 6” apart, with 18 inches between each double row.

5. Keep well watered until the ground freezes, and mulch with straw or leaves. Roots will begin growing underground. Be sure to keep your garlic bed weed-free.

6. In early spring, remove mulch, and soon the stalks will emerge.

7. In June, flower buds (scapes) will appear in whimsical curlycues. Cut these off to maintain the plant’s energy for garlic production. You can eat the scapes (or add them to flower arrangements!)

8. When leaves begin browning, cut back on watering so garlic heads are dry-ish at harvest.

9. Dig garlic when about half the leaves have browned. Do not wash. Allow to cure in a warm, dry place for 2–3 weeks so the skins dry out. A fan is helpful.

That’s all that’s needed! Access information about growing all kinds of vegetables in Minnesota here. (Scroll down to Find Plants and then to Vegetables.)