Plant Garlic Now Before Minnesota’s Planting Window Closes

October is prime time for planting garlic in central Minnesota, and if you’ve ever wanted to grow your own, now is the time to get moving.

According to central Minnesota Master Gardener Joseph Storlien, garlic is surprisingly easy to grow, doesn’t require a huge garden, and there’s something pretty satisfying about pulling your own fresh garlic out of the ground next year.

FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT GROWING GARLIC IN MN

Before you grab your gardening gloves, here are five things you need to know about growing garlic in central Minnesota.

1. Fall Is The Time To Plant

Unlike many of the vegetables we grow in Minnesota, garlic gets planted in the fall. October is generally a great time to get those cloves in the ground, ideally a few weeks before the ground freezes. That gives the cloves time to start developing roots before winter arrives.

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You don't want to plant so early that the garlic puts on a lot of green growth before winter, but you also don't want to wait until the ground is frozen. With Minnesota weather, it's always a bit of a guessing game. Joseph says in general, he usually tries to get all his garlic planted by Halloween to ward off all the vampires. :-)

The actual recommendation is to plant garlic about 1-2 weeks after the first killing frost.

2. Buy The Right Garlic

You might be tempted to grab a few garlic bulbs from the grocery store, but that's not your best bet. Look for garlic bulbs specifically sold for planting from a reputable garlic grower, garden center, or seed company. You want to choose garlic that is adapted to cold climates.

Garlic comes in two main types: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck garlic is a popular choice in colder climates like Minnesota because it tends to do well in northern growing conditions. It also produces a curly flower stalk called a scape, which you can harvest and use in cooking.

Softneck garlic generally stores well and is often the type you'll find braided. Both can be worth growing, depending on the variety and your garden.

3. Give Those Cloves Some Space

Here's an important tip: don't plant the whole garlic bulb. Carefully separate it into individual cloves, leaving the papery skin on each one.

Plant each clove with the pointed end facing up, roughly two to three inches deep, with about six inches between cloves. If you're planting several rows, leave enough room between them to make weeding and watering easier. Joseph often plants his garlic in double rows, 6 inches apart, and then spaces another double row about 30 inches away.

Choose a spot with well-drained soil and plenty of sunshine. Garlic doesn't like sitting in soggy ground, especially when the snow melts. A sunny garden bed with loose, fertile soil will give your garlic a much better chance of thriving.

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4. Protect Your Garlic From A Minnesota Winter

Minnesota winters can be brutal, but garlic is built to handle the cold when it's planted and protected properly.

After planting, cover the bed with a layer of clean straw or shredded leaves. A mulch layer of roughly three to four inches can help insulate the soil, reduce temperature swings, and protect the cloves during winter. Avoid packing the mulch down tightly, and make sure the bed drains well.

When spring arrives and the garlic begins to grow, check the bed and remove or thin the mulch if needed. You want to protect your plants without smothering them.

5. Be Patient

Garlic isn't something you'll plant in October and enjoy a few weeks later. It takes patience!

Your garlic will spend the winter in the ground, start growing again in spring, and continue developing into summer. If you're growing hardneck garlic, you may see curly green scapes appear in late spring or early summer. Snipping those scapes when they curl can encourage the plant to put more energy into developing its bulb, and the scapes are delicious in pesto, stir-fries, and other recipes.

Most garlic planted in the fall is ready to harvest in mid to late summer the following year, depending on the variety and weather. When several lower leaves turn brown, but some upper leaves remain green, it's time to check whether the bulbs are ready.

Once harvested, cure the garlic in a dry, shaded, well-ventilated spot before storing it.

So, while the rest of us are cleaning up flower beds, raking leaves, and putting away the lawn mower, garlic lovers have one more gardening project to tackle. Get those cloves planted now, give them a little protection from the Minnesota winter, and you could be enjoying homegrown garlic next July.

Get more details on how to plant and harvest garlic by clicking HERE.