Are your garlic bulbs turning out small or rotting in the ground? Avoid these five common garlic-growing mistakes that can ruin your crop. Fix your planting game and grow garlic like a pro!
Garlic seems simple—stick it in the ground, wait, and harvest. But if you’ve ended up with puny bulbs or mushy messes instead of plump, fragrant heads, you’re not alone. Garlic needs the right conditions and timing. Skip these five common mistakes, and you’ll be pulling strong, healthy bulbs from your garden in no time.
1. Planting the Wrong Time of Year
Garlic isn’t a spring crop—it’s a fall crop. Planting in spring doesn’t give it enough cold time to form proper bulbs. Garlic needs a period of chilling to trigger bulb development. For most regions, mid to late fall is perfect—about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. Plant too early and it may sprout and get damaged by frost. Too late and it won’t root properly before winter.
Pro tip: If you can stick a shovel into the ground without it being frozen, it’s still okay to plant.
2. Using Grocery Store Garlic as Seed
That garlic from the supermarket? Don’t plant it. Most store garlic is treated with chemicals to prevent sprouting, and even if it does grow, it might carry diseases or not be suited to your climate. Instead, buy seed garlic from a local nursery or trusted seed supplier. It’s selected for growing, not eating, and gives you a much better shot at a good harvest.
3. Poor Soil Preparation
Garlic loves loose, rich, well-draining soil. If your soil is heavy clay or compacted, the bulbs can’t expand and might rot in soggy conditions. Don’t just dig a hole and hope for the best. Work in compost and aged manure, and make sure the soil drains well. Raised beds or mounded rows can help with drainage in wetter climates.
Skip this: Don’t add fresh manure—it’s too strong and can burn roots or invite disease.
4. Crowding the Cloves
Garlic bulbs need space to grow. Plant cloves too close together, and they’ll compete for nutrients and end up small. Give each clove at least 4 to 6 inches of space in all directions. That gives the roots room to spread and bulbs room to swell.
Also, plant cloves pointy-end up and flat-end down. It sounds basic, but it matters.
5. Ignoring Watering and Mulching
Garlic needs steady moisture during the growing season, especially in spring as the bulbs are forming. But overwatering or poor drainage can cause rot. Strike the balance: water regularly but don’t let it sit soggy. After planting, cover the bed with a few inches of straw or mulch. This keeps soil temperatures stable and holds in moisture, while also helping to suppress weeds.
When the tops start to brown and dry in early summer, cut back on watering. That signals the bulbs to mature and dry out.
Final Thoughts
Growing garlic isn’t hard—but it’s not totally hands-off either. Get the timing right, give it good soil, and don’t rush the process. With a few tweaks, you’ll go from garlic frustration to garlic success—and there’s nothing like cooking with your own homegrown cloves.
