Customer Service Hours
Mon-Fri 8-4 MST
Features
Family
Amaryllidaceae, subfamily Alleoideae (formerly Alliaceae) Allium or Onion family, includes onions, garlic, chives, shallots, and leeks.
Native
Central Asia
Life Cycle
Usually grown as an annual to harvest the bulbs, but can be grown as a perennial
About Shandong Hardneck Garlic - USDA Certified Organic
White bulb wrappers with bold purple streaks conceal 6–8 crescent-shaped cloves. Strong, spicy heat when raw; nutty and savory when cooked. Early harvest with moderate storage of up to 5 months.
Planting Garlic
Days to Maturity
250-270 days (when planted in fall)
Plant Spacing
One clove every 6"–8"
Light Required
Full sun to part shade.
Planting Depth
Plant garlic 2"–3" deep with the pointed side up.
Planting Details
| Row Spacing | 12"–18" |
|---|---|
| Seed Depth | Plant garlic 2"–3" deep with the pointed side up. |
| Seed Spacing | One clove every 6"–8" |
| Thinning | Thinning is not necessary if spaced properly during planting. |
| Start Indoors | Not recommended if you want to grow bulbs. If you don't get your garlic in the ground, the cloves can be planted indoors any time of year for the green tops that make tasty garlic-flavored raw greens or stir-fry ingredients. |
| Direct Sow | Garlic is planted in fall for harvest 7 to 9 months later (midsummer). In areas with cold winters, sow individual cloves from mid-September to mid-November. Garlic is frost-hardy but ideally should be planted 4 to 6 weeks before the first hard freeze to give the bulbs time to establish roots. In areas with mild winters, garlic can be planted until January. |
| Special Care | After planting, apply 2"–4" of mulch (e.g., straw, untreated grass clippings, shredded leaves) to maintain moisture, insulate the cloves through the winter, and help prevent frost from pushing cloves to the surface. Loosen mulch in spring to allow shoots to push through thick or compacted mulch. In very cold climates, remove mulch after the last hard freeze to allow soil to warm more quickly. Reapply mulch after shoots emerge to maintain consistent moisture and reduce weeds. Remove weeds regularly to reduce competition for water and nutrients. |
| Growing & Harvesting | Garlic bulbs are ready to harvest when the tops are approximately 40% yellow or brown or when the tops start to fall over. This is typically in June and July. Do not leave bulbs in the ground too long, or the skins will decay, reducing storage life. To harvest, lift the bulbs gently with a digging fork (flat tines) or a shovel, digging widely to avoid cutting into them. Gently brush off any loose soil and remove any damaged cloves, but leave the roots and shoots attached. Lay or hang the whole plant in a warm, airy location out of direct sun and protected from rain before curing. For more information, see Garlic: Harvesting, Curing, and Storage. |
Find Your Frost Date & Grow Zone
Average First Frost Date
October 19
Average Last Frost Date
May 19
Your Hardiness Zone is
5b
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