Grow Garlic Anywhere: My 2024 Garlic Planting Guide
Inchelium Red garlic harvest from my 4’ x 8’ raised beds.
Think you don’t have enough space to grow garlic? Think again! I'm rebuilding my entire garden after Hurricane Helene's flooding, but I still found a way to plant garlic this year, even with my space in transition and my raised beds unavailable. Let’s get those garlic cloves in the ground, no matter what garden setup you have!
Why Garlic Belongs in Every Garden
Garlic is one of those must-have crops for any garden, and the great news is, you can grow it almost anywhere, as long as you provide two key ingredients: 6 to 8 hours of full sun and loose, well-drained soil. In my recent container gardening video, I highlighted six must-grow crops, and this year, I’m officially adding garlic to the list. Over the past 11 years, I’ve grown garlic in 4x8 raised beds, spacing cloves 6 to 8 inches apart and dedicating at least two beds to it each year. That adds up to a lot of delicious homegrown garlic!
When to Plant Garlic
I planted on October 19th, just a few days later than my usual October 15th planting goal. Wherever you live, aim to plant garlic at least two weeks before the first frost and well before the ground freezes in colder areas. Gardeners in zones 0-5 might find it’s a bit late for in-ground planting, but don’t let that stop you. I’ll show you a method using grow bags that extends your garlic-growing options, even as the weather cools down.
Your garlic should start with some root development before winter sets in, but don’t worry if you see green shoots—those will handle the cold as long as there’s not TOO much above-ground growth. Both softneck and hardneck garlic need a cold period called vernalization to thrive, though softneck requires a shorter, milder cold period. In the South, softneck is ideal, while northern gardeners will want to choose hardneck varieties for the best results. In my upstate South Carolina garden, I’ve tried both, and have consistently had the best success with softneck varieties.
Why I’m Growing Garlic in Grow Bags This Year
After a recent downpour dumped a foot of rain on my garden, I’m reworking my garden layout to address some drainage issues. Since garlic needs 8-9 months to grow undisturbed, I’m choosing grow bags this year to avoid the upheaval of my garden beds. Grow bags are portable, perfect for small spaces, and are also ideal for renters or anyone with changing garden layouts.
In past videos, I’ve shared the many benefits of grow bags, like their portability, air circulation, and excellent drainage. They’re especially convenient since I’ll be able to move my garlic crop around if needed during our redesign. Plus, nothing compares to the taste of fresh, homegrown garlic—it’s worth every bit of effort to keep my garlic-growing streak going.
My future 2025 garlic harvest, tucked into grow bags for the winter.
Preparing the Soil Mix for Garlic in Grow Bags
For my grow bags, I usually use a mix of 75% potting soil (my trusted Happy Frog potting soil for extra richness) and 25% mushroom compost, with some amendments for nutrition and moisture retention. Normally, I like to add wool pellets for their slow-release nutrients, but this year I’m also adding homemade compost (I use an amazing countertop composter that’s been a game-changer for composting kitchen scraps fast and odor-free).
I’m making a slight adjustment to my soil mix since garlic will be in these bags for the better part of the year. This time, I’m going with a 50/50 blend of mushroom compost and potting soil. After filling the bags, I’ll leave a few inches at the top for a thick layer of mulch to help with moisture retention and insulation.
Preparing a grow bag soil mix garlic loves.
Planting and Spacing Garlic in Grow Bags
This year, I’m planting Inchelium Red and Sicilian softneck garlic. I pick the biggest cloves from my best heads each year to replant—this selection process has helped my garlic adapt to my garden’s specific conditions, leading to stronger plants and bigger bulbs over time.
I’m spacing the cloves 4 inches apart, closer than my usual 6 to 8 inches in raised beds, which should be perfect for grow bags. Remember, the root end of the clove faces down, and the pointy tip faces up. Plant cloves about 3 inches deep, and top with a layer of mulch—I like using pine straw because it stays in place and protects well from our heavy rains. You could use any natural mulch that’s easy for you to source in your area.
Spacing garlic cloves in a 10-gallon grow bag on Oct. 19, 2024.
Caring for Garlic Through Fall and Winter
After planting, I’ll water the garlic well and keep it hydrated during any dry spells. Grow bags dry out faster than raised beds, so I’ll keep an eye on the soil moisture to maintain that “wrung-out sponge” consistency—never too dry or soggy. In the winter, I usually pause watering, only resuming in early spring when new growth appears.
In spring, I’ll also add fertilizer to boost growth since grow bags have a tendency to leach nutrients since they drain so well. Fish emulsion is my go-to for a nutrient boost, which I water in to keep the garlic healthy as it bulks up for harvest.
Garlic growing in my raised beds in the fall of 2023.
Wrap-Up: Growing Garlic Anywhere
With garlic safely planted in portable grow bags, I can move my crop to the sunniest spot available—even if that’s the front yard! Grow bags make it possible to grow garlic wherever space allows, and the freedom to move them around is a game-changer.
Whether you’re new to growing garlic or simply working with limited space, I hope this guide inspires you to get started. Garlic is one of the most rewarding crops to grow, and the taste of garden-fresh cloves makes all the effort worthwhile.
Watch my video for more details:
