Fall Garlic Planting
Fall Garlic Planting
The First Crop of Summer Starts in October
Fall is garlic planting time. While most of the garden is slowing down, garlic gets tucked in for the winter so it can be one of the first crops ready next summer.
If you’re gardening in the Bishop area (Zone 7b), the best window to plant is mid-October through early November. You want to wait until after the first hard frost, but get cloves in the ground before the soil freezes. That way, they’ll have 4–6 weeks to set roots before winter sets in.
Here’s how to plant:
Source garlic carefully. Skip planting grocery store garlic — it’s often treated to prevent sprouting and may also carry diseases that could infect your soil and hurt next year’s crop. Instead, look for seed garlic from trusted suppliers like Johnny’s, Seed Savers, Territorial, and other reputable companies. Just know that seed garlic prices are high right now, often around $30–35 per pound. Another good option is to buy from small farms or vendors at farmers markets. If you go that route, talk directly with the farmer. Ask if they’ve had any disease issues in their garlic crop and whether they treat their garlic in any way.
Choose seed garlic. You get what you plant. The size and health of the clove you put in the ground will determine the size and health of the bulb you pull out next summer. Always select the largest, healthiest heads you can find. Break them apart and set aside the biggest cloves for planting. The smaller ones are best saved for cooking. Don’t use soft or damaged cloves.
Prep your bed. Garlic likes full sun and loose, well-drained soil. Mix in compost if you have it.
Plant cloves. Place them pointy side up, 2–3 inches deep, 4–6 inches apart. Cover with soil.
Mulch. Use straw, leaves, or grass clippings. Mulch keeps weeds down, holds in moisture, and insulates the soil over winter.
Bishop Gardening Tip: Our high desert climate means cold nights and sunny days. That freeze–thaw cycle can actually push garlic cloves up out of the soil over winter. A thick mulch layer is especially important here to keep cloves tucked in and protected until spring.
That’s it. Through the cold months, the cloves will root quietly underground. By spring you’ll see green shoots coming up, and by next July you’ll be pulling bulbs to dry and store for the kitchen.
Even in a backyard bed or raised box, a small patch of garlic is worth the effort — one afternoon of planting now turns into months of good eating later.
A Bonus Harvest: Garlic Scapes
If you’re planting hardneck garlic, you’ll also get a little treat before the main crop is ready. In late spring, the plants send up curly green flower stalks called scapes. Snip them off so the plant puts energy into the bulb — and enjoy them in your kitchen. Scapes taste like a cross between garlic and green onions: crisp, mild, and full of flavor. They’re excellent in stir-fries, blended into pesto, or grilled whole. Think of them as garlic’s early gift while you wait for the bulbs to size up underground. They are one of my favorite surprise crops.