Planting garlic in spring zone 5

This piece was updated on 8/28/2023 to include photos of the harvested garlic from the cloves planted in the spring.

In the book of Germinations, it doth say, “Woe to the springtime gardener who Googleth ‘When to plant garlic,” for there will be much gnashing of teeth and rending of robes.

And lo, their hopes of roasted garlic hummus and pickled dilly-garlic beans shall be dashed upon the rocks.

Many a gardener has learned at the wrong end of the growing season when you’re supposed to plant garlic. But don’t go tearing your robes just yet; you can plant garlic in the spring.

Why Garlic Is Usually Planted in the Fall

Garlic is a geophyte, meaning the aboveground plant grows from an underground storage organ, or for us non-sciencey people – bulbs.

You’re probably familiar with other popular geophytes – carrots, ginger and daffodils.

Most geophytes grow and spread via new bulbs that grow apart from the main bulb. If you’ve ever dug up bulbs to divide, then you’re quite familiar with this method of plant rep

planting garlic in spring uk

planting garlic in spring zone 8