When To Plant Garlic In The Pacific Northwest

I have a confession: I’ve been growing garlic for years, but I’ve never posted about it on this blog. And I’m not just talking about in my home garden (though that is lovely too). I’m talking about what’s happening out in the real world, with my friends and neighbors who are cultivating the bulbs in the Pacific Northwest. They’re planting cloves of garlic around their properties, decorating with them on their patios, giving them to me as gifts and even holding garlic festivals! So each year when my fall garden starts to get a little cold, with all its dying greens and shriveled leaves, my inspiration kicks in. By falltime they’re ready to be planted out into the ground, usually in February—that’s when they start growing into those big bulbs that everyone loves so much. You’ll want to give them plenty of space (at least 2 feet apart), so plan ahead! The best thing to do is plant your cloves right next to each other because they’ll start touching (but not too closely) and then turn out bigger bulbs because of it. For my gardens outside our house, we have hardy garlic that stays safe through wintertime here in our area of Washington State; but if you live somewhere else where winters can be harsh or frosty (like here), you might find that you need something more like what’s called “container” garlic—i.e., ones that are grown indoors during winter months and then move out into the garden after summertime comes back around. If this sounds confusing….or if you want more info on how everything works…here’s where you can look up your own state for specifics: http://www.garliclawnetwork.org/states/

You can plant garlic in the Pacific Northwest in the fall, from late September through February.

You can plant garlic in the Pacific Northwest in the fall, from late September through February. Fall is when our soil is still warm enough to grow garlic, but not too wet or cold for it to thrive. It’s also when the garlic is ready to be harvested—which means you can get all your hard work done before it freezes!

Some people choose to plant garlic in January or February and let it grow until spring; this is an option if you live where winters are milder than ours here in Portland. However, if we get a late snowfall (such as what we had earlier this month), that could kill off your entire crop!

Planting garlic correctly is important for its success.

Planting garlic correctly is important for its success. The best time to plant garlic is in early fall. Garlic can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked, but it is best to wait until after the first frost has passed in your area (usually mid-October).

The best depth of planting for garlic is approximately one inch beneath the soil. You should plant your cloves at least six inches apart and up to three inches deep. You may also want to consider planting a few different varieties of ​garlic; this will ensure that you have plenty of harvestable bulbs throughout the duration of the growing season.

If you live in an area where there are heavy amounts of rainfall during springtime weather months, then it might not be advisable for you not only because you’re likely going to end up with moldy heads but also because it will cause disease problems when planted later on down stream from each other

It takes about nine months for bulbs to be produced.

The best time to plant garlic is in October or November. It takes about nine months for bulbs to be produced, but you don’t have to wait all that time to start harvesting. After the harvest, it’s important that your bulbs dry out for about two weeks before storing them. If you want to use it right away, you can cut off the tops and use them as green garlic (or “scapes”).

Garlic soil should be rich and well-drained.

• Garlic grows best in a rich, well-drained soil.
• The ideal pH for garlic is between 6.0 and 7.0 (slightly acidic).
• If your soil is too alkaline, add sulfur to lower the pH.
• A loose, friable soil with good drainage will help prevent fungal diseases that plague garlic plants like black rot and white rot.

Growers work hard so your garlic will be fresh, flavorful and locally grown.

• Growers work hard so your garlic will be fresh, flavorful and locally grown.
• Local farmers care about their product, their customers and their community. They take pride in their work and are invested in the quality of life we all enjoy here in Oregon’s Willamette Valley.
• So when you buy local garlic, you know that it was grown by a farmer who has chosen to farm organically because they believe this is the best approach to growing healthy food without using pesticides or herbicides that can end up on plates around the world.

Garlic really is a magical food source, plus it’s fun to grow!

Garlic is a magical food source. It’s fun to grow and can be used in so many ways. In addition to being a healthy, versatile food, it also makes your garden more beautiful!

Fall is the best time to plant your garlic in the PNW. There are many different types of garlic and it’s fun to experiment with different varieties to see which ones you like best. If you’re new to growing garlic, or have had trouble growing garlic in the past, we recommend asking a local farmer for advice on how they grow their garlic—they might even share some seeds with you! Just make sure that you plant your cloves at least 2 inches deep and 6-8 inches apart. Otherwise, don’t forget about watering them when there isn’t much rainfall during summer months (which can be often here) so that they get enough nutrients as well as sunlight from the sun or rain water