Q: How do I plant garlic? Is it too late to plant garlic in November here in Georgia?
A: Not at all! In fact, November is a great time to get garlic in the ground across most of the state. Garlic loves cool weather and needs a long growing season, so planting in late fall gives it plenty of time to settle in before winter. The cloves will spend the colder months quietly putting down roots, and once spring warms things up, they’ll take off with fresh growth.
Garlic isn’t fussy, but it does like well-drained soil and full sun. Before planting, loosen your soil a few inches deep and mix in some compost or aged manure to give it a nutrient boost. If your soil is on the heavy clay side, planting in raised beds or mounded rows can help prevent soggy roots. Break apart the bulbs into individual cloves right before planting, and set each one about two inches deep, pointed side up, spaced four to six inches apart. Once everything’s planted, cover the bed with a couple of inches of mulch—straw, pine needles, or shredded leaves all work great. The mulch keeps the soil temperature steady and helps hold in moisture all winter.
Through the winter, you can mostly forget about your garlic. Just check occasionally to make sure the soil isn’t bone-dry. Come spring, you’ll start seeing green shoots poking through your mulch. That’s your cue to pull the mulch back a bit!
When June rolls around, you’ll notice the leaves starting to yellow and flop over to signal that it’s harvest time! Gently loosen the bulbs with a garden fork, shake off the dirt (do not rinse!), and let them cure in a warm, shady spot with good airflow for a couple of weeks. A carport or covered porch is a great place to cure garlic. Once they’re dry, brush off any remaining soil and store them in a cool, dry place.
So, if you’ve been wondering whether you missed your chance to plant garlic this year, don’t worry, there’s still time. Grab a few bulbs, dig in this weekend, and next summer you’ll be pulling up your own homegrown garlic, perfect for roasting and cooking.
If you have other gardening questions, contact a Master Gardener Volunteer at the UGA Extension Carroll County Office at 900 Newnan Road in Carrollton at 770-836-8546 or via email ccmg@uga.edu
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