When should I harvest garlic?

Harvest when the lower leaves begin to turn brown and dry out.

Does garlic need full sun?

Yes, it thrives in full sun for at least six hours a day.

Plant guide

Ail.

Allium sativum

Pronounced AL-ee-um sah-TEE-vum

Also known as Cultivated Garlic, Garlic

Garlic is a hardy bulbous perennial that is widely grown for its flavorful cloves. It thrives in well drained soil and requires a period of cold to develop properly. You will love how easy it is to grow in your own garden.

Another photo of Ail — Photo by Randy A Nonenmacher (CC BY) via iNaturalist

At a glance

Care level: Easy
Plant type: Bulbous perennial
Light: Full sun
Indoor light: Direct sun
Water: Every 7 to 10 days
Mature size: 2 feet tall
Growth rate: Medium
Hardiness: USDA 4 to 9
Bloom time: Late spring to early summer

Care

Plant cloves in the fall and ensure the soil stays moist but not soggy. Watch for yellowing leaves as a sign that the bulbs are ready for harvest. Keep the area free of weeds to prevent competition for nutrients.

Watering: Keep the soil consistently moist during the active growing season.
Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer in early spring to encourage bulb development.
Pruning: Remove any flower scapes that appear to direct energy back into the bulb.
Repotting: Garlic is typically harvested annually rather than repotted.
Soil: Well draining loamy soil
Soil pH: 6.0 to 7.0
Temperature: -15 to 30°C
Humidity: 40 to 60%
Drought tolerance: Moderate
Lifespan: Perennial, typically grown as an annual crop
Fragrance: Strong
Deer and rabbits: High

Signs it needs repotting

Roots growing out of drainage holes
Bulbs becoming crowded in the pot
Stunted growth despite proper care

Safety

People: Garlic is generally safe for humans, though it can cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.
Pets: Garlic is toxic to cats and dogs as it can cause damage to their red blood cells.
Children: Garlic bulbs are not toxic to children, but they are a choking hazard if swallowed whole.
Contact allergens: Handling raw garlic can cause contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals due to diallyl disulfide.
Airborne allergens: Garlic pollen is not a common cause of respiratory allergies.
Edibility: While widely consumed, large quantities of raw garlic can cause gastrointestinal distress in some people.

How to identify it

Long flat grass like leaves
Underground bulb with multiple cloves
Tall central flowering stalk
Small white or pinkish flowers

Height: 0.3 to 0.6m
Spread: 0.1 to 0.15m
Leaves: green, blue-green, deciduous
Flowers: white, pink, purple, 2 to 5cm
Fruit: white, purple, brown, Mid to late summer

Problems to watch for

Onion FlyCommon
Onion ThripsCommon
White RotCommon
BoltingUncommon
Bulb RotUncommon
Root RotUncommon
RustUncommon
Soft RotRare

By symptom

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Growing it

Propagation: division, bulbils
When to plant: fall
Overwintering: Garlic requires a cold period to trigger bulb formation. Mulch heavily in late autumn to protect the cloves from extreme temperature fluctuations.
In containers: Garlic grows well in containers at least 20 centimeters deep with good drainage.

Bulb Division

1. Separate the bulb into individual cloves.
2. Plant cloves pointed end up in well draining soil.
3. Space cloves 10 to 15 centimeters apart.
4. Cover with 5 centimeters of soil.
5. Water thoroughly after planting.

Plant garlic near roses to help deter aphids and other soft bodied insects.

Grows well with

Tomato — Garlic may help deter certain pests that bother tomato plants.
Lettuce — Garlic acts as a natural repellent for aphids that often attack lettuce.

Keep away from

Asparagus — Garlic can stunt the growth of asparagus when planted in close proximity.
Beans — Garlic may inhibit the growth of beans by affecting soil bacteria.

Similar species

Onion — Both are bulbous vegetables in the same genus with similar growing requirements.
Chives — A smaller relative often grown for its edible leaves and flowers.

Science

Family: Amaryllidaceae
Genus: Allium
Order: Asparagales
Class: Liliopsida
Native range: Central Asia
Conservation: Garlic is a widely cultivated crop and is not of conservation concern.

Garlic survives by storing energy in its bulb during the growing season to sprout again after a cold dormant period.

Value to wildlife: nectar source, repels certain garden pests
Pollinators: bees, butterflies
Uses: culinary flavoring, companion planting, traditional medicine

Through the year

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Flowering

Fruiting

Foliage

Ecological indicators

Salinity: 2/9
Soil reaction: 6/9
Temperature: 5/9
Moisture: 5/9
Nutrients: 6/9
Light: 8/9

Taxonomy resolved against GBIF.

Questions people ask

When should I harvest garlic?: Harvest when the lower leaves begin to turn brown and dry out.
Does garlic need full sun?: Yes, it thrives in full sun for at least six hours a day.

Where the name comes from

The name Allium is the Latin word for garlic, while sativum means cultivated.

Good to know

Garlic is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family.
It has been used as a natural insect repellent in gardens.
Ancient Egyptians fed garlic to laborers to increase their strength.
The pungent smell comes from sulfur compounds released when the bulb is crushed.

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This guide was generated with AI and checked against GBIF taxonomy. It is general information, not horticultural or veterinary advice. Read about how we build these guides.