🧄 Garlic
Allium sativum
vegetables
bulb vegetable (allium)
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6, 8+ hours)
💧 Water
Medium; 1 inch per week; consistent moisture during spring growth; reduce/stop watering 2, 3 weeks before harvest when leaves begin to yellow
🗺️ Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
🧪 Soil pH
6.0, 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
🪴 Soil Type
Well-drained, fertile loam with high organic matter; garlic is a heavy feeder , amend with compost before planting
🚿 Drainage
Excellent drainage critical , garlic rots in wet soil; raised beds strongly recommended in clay or high-rainfall areas
📏 Spacing
Cloves 4, 6 inches apart in rows 12, 18 inches apart; plant 1, 2 inches deep (pointed end up) in fall before ground freezes
⏱️ Maturity
90-150 days (from planting cloves in fall); harvest mid-summer, 8-9 months total
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Cloves (bulb)
🍽️ Scapes (flower stalks , harvest before curling for milder, tender garlic flavor)
🍽️ Young leaves (garlic greens)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (8)
Garlic deters beet pests; beets and garlic occupy different root zones
Garlic repels cabbage aphids and moths from Brussels sprouts; sulfur compounds deter pests.
Repels carrot rust fly; general soil fumigant effect reducing soil-borne pests
Improves garlic flavor; attracts beneficial insects; antifungal
🤝 Fruit trees (apple, peach)
Garlic repels borers, aphids, and peach leaf curl; plant in tree's drip line as a natural pest deterrent
Repels Japanese beetles and spider mites; antifungal compounds reduce cane diseases
Garlic's antifungal volatile compounds reduce blackspot and powdery mildew on roses; repels aphids and Japanese beetles , one of the most famous ornamental/vegetable companions
Repels spider mites and aphids; antifungal properties may reduce late blight and powdery mildew
⚠️ Keep Apart (4)
⚠️ Bean (all types)
Strong allium antagonism , inhibits nitrogen-fixing bacteria; beans will be severely stunted
Some sources report garlic stunts parsley growth
Same nitrogen-fixing inhibition as beans , legumes and alliums are fundamentally incompatible
May stunt garlic growth; aromatic incompatibility reported
💊 Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Properties
- Allicin (produced when garlic is crushed/chopped): potent antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral compound
- Clinically studied for cardiovascular benefits: lowers blood pressure, reduces LDL cholesterol, reduces arterial plaque
- Traditional antibiotic: used as a broad-spectrum antimicrobial for thousands of years across many cultures
- May reduce risk of stomach and colorectal cancers (epidemiological evidence)
- Immune system booster , regularly consumed during cold/flu season
📝 Growing Notes
Two main types: Hardneck (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon) , produces scapes, more flavorful, better for cold climates (zones 3-6), fewer but larger cloves, 4-6 month storage. Softneck (Allium sativum var. sativum) , no scapes, braidable, better for warm climates (zones 5-9), more cloves, 6-9 month storage. Plant in fall (October-November) for July harvest. Do NOT plant grocery store garlic , often treated with sprout inhibitors and may carry diseases.
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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