How to Grow Garlic: Planting, Harvesting & Health Benefits

If there is one crop I believe every home gardener should grow, it is organic garlic. The differences in flavor, aroma, and nutritional value between a fresh, homegrown bulb and a supermarket bulb are absolutely staggering.

Whether you want to elevate your cooking or take advantage of its incredible medicinal properties, growing garlic is remarkably simple. In this guide, I will walk you through exactly what a garlic clove is, how to plant and harvest it, and the science-backed health benefits that make this plant a true superfood.

What is a Clove of Garlic?

That little crescent shape you see in the photo below is a single clove of garlic.

When you go to the store or a nursery, you purchase a whole bulb of garlic. If you break that bulb, you get a cluster of smaller, individual cloves. When you read a recipe that calls for “two or three garlic cloves,” it means pulling apart the bulb and using the individual cloves.

Note: In this guide, I am talking exclusively about Organic Garlic, not the heavily processed garlic you often find in commercial supermarkets. While commercially grown garlic may have a similar taste, it offers far fewer nutritional benefits than its organic, homegrown cousin.

Is Garlic a Vegetable?

Botanically speaking, garlic (Allium sativum) is classified as a vegetable. It belongs to the onion family, alongside leeks and chives. However, in the culinary world, garlic is predominantly treated and used as a spice or herb. Because of its potent, pungent taste, it is rarely consumed in large quantities like other traditional vegetables.

How and When to Grow Garlic

Growing garlic is truly simple and highly rewarding.

Autumn Planting (Highly Recommended)

Planting in the fall yields the largest, healthiest bulbs. Plant your cloves in mid-autumn in a sunny location with rich, well-drained soil. Break the bulb apart just before planting. Space the cloves 4–6 inches apart in rows, ensuring the rows are at least 1 foot apart.

Crucial step: The cloves must be planted with the pointy end facing up and the blunt (root) end facing down. Press each clove 2 inches into the soil, firm the ground around it, and water lightly. In colder northern climates, cover the bed with 6 inches of mulch for winter weather protection.

Spring Planting

If you missed the autumn window, you can plant cloves as early in spring as the soil can be worked (about the same time you plant onion sets). Spring-planted garlic is put in the soil the exact same way, though the resulting bulbs are typically smaller.

Harvesting and Proper Storage Methods

You will know it is time to harvest your garlic when most of the lower leaves have turned dry and brown. Depending on your climate, this typically occurs between mid-July and early August.

Do not pull them by the stems! Carefully dig the bulbs out with a garden fork, being cautious not to bruise them or break the skin. If the bulbs are left in the damp soil for too long, the protective papery wrapper will rot, and they will not store well.

Curing the Garlic

Lay the freshly dug garlic plants out to dry (cure) for 2 to 3 weeks in a shady location with good air circulation. Make sure you bring them under a roof if rain is forecasted. Once the roots and stems feel completely dry and brittle, brush off any loose soil.

You can tie the garlic in bunches, braid the soft stems, or cut the stems an inch above the bulb to store them loose in wooden boxes. Hang the braids or store the loose bulbs on slatted shelves in a cool, dark, airy location. (Tip: Put aside your absolute largest, healthiest bulbs to replant the following autumn!)

The Incredible Science-Backed Benefits of Garlic

Disclaimer: I am a gardener, not a medical doctor. The following information reflects historical uses and modern nutritional studies. Always consult a physician before drastically changing your diet or using plants for medicinal purposes, especially if you suffer from a bleeding disorder or take blood-thinning medications.

Calorie-for-calorie, garlic is incredibly nutritious. One clove (three grams) of raw garlic contains small amounts of Calcium, Copper, Potassium, Phosphorus, Iron, and Vitamin B1. Best of all, this comes with just 4.5 calories.

1. Combats Sickness and the Common Cold

Garlic dietary supplements are known to boost the immune system’s performance. A large, 12-week study found that a daily garlic supplement reduced the number of colds by 63% compared to a placebo. The typical length of cold symptoms was also reduced by 70%. Adding raw garlic to your diet may be well worth a try if you frequently get the sniffles.

2. Reduces Blood Pressure

Human studies have discovered that garlic dietary supplements can significantly reduce blood pressure in individuals with hypertension. In one study, 600 to 1,500 mg of aged garlic extract was highly helpful in decreasing blood pressure over a 24-week period.

3. Improves Cholesterol Levels

For those with high cholesterol, garlic supplements appear to reduce total and LDL (the “bad”) cholesterol by approximately 10-15%. However, it does not appear to have any substantial effects on HDL (the “good” cholesterol) or triglyceride levels.

4. May Detoxify Heavy Metals

The sulfur compounds in garlic have been shown to protect against organ damage caused by heavy metal toxicity. A four-week study of workers at a car battery plant (who had excessive exposure to lead) found that regular garlic consumption reduced blood lead levels by 19% and decreased clinical symptoms of toxicity, such as headaches.

Conclusion

For thousands of years, garlic was praised by ancient cultures for its powerful medicinal properties. Today, modern science has finally confirmed what our ancestors already knew.

It enhances almost all savory dishes, especially sauces and soups. A great way to use it is to press a couple of cloves of fresh garlic, mix it with extra virgin olive oil and a bit of sea salt, and use it as a healthy, satisfying salad dressing. Just remember: if you want the absolute best flavor and health benefits, always choose or grow organic garlic!