If you’re a Pennsylvania gardener, knowing when to plant garlic in PA is the first step to a successful harvest. Getting the timing right is crucial, as it allows the cloves to establish roots before winter without sending up green shoots too soon.
This guide will walk you through the optimal planting windows for our state, along with simple steps for planting, care, and harvest. Garlic is one of the most rewarding crops you can grow, and with a little planning, you’ll be set for a bounty next summer.
When To Plant Garlic In PA
For most of Pennsylvania, the prime planting time for garlic is in the fall. The goal is to get cloves into the ground about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes solid. This gives them just enough time to grow roots and begin to settle in.
This window typically falls from early October through mid-November. However, this can shift a bit depending on exactly where you live in the state.
Pennsylvania’s Climate Zones and Planting Dates
PA spans several USDA hardiness zones, from 5b in the northern tier to 7a in the southeastern corners. Your local frost dates are the best cue.
- Northern & Western PA (Zones 5b-6a): Aim for early to mid-October. The colder winters here mean an earlier freeze, so get those cloves in sooner.
- Central PA (Zone 6b): This is the sweet spot for much of the state. Target mid-October to early November.
- Southern & Southeastern PA (Zones 6b-7a): You can plant a little later, from late October through mid-November. The ground takes longer to freeze.
A good rule of thumb is to plant after the first light frost has occured but well before a hard freeze. If you plant to early, warm soil can trigger top growth, which winter cold will then damage.
Can You Plant Garlic in the Spring in Pennsylvania?
While fall planting is strongly prefered, you can plant garlic in the spring. You’ll need to use refrigerated seed garlic to simulate winter vernalization. Plant it as early as the soil can be worked, usually late March or April.
Spring-planted garlic often produces smaller bulbs, as it has less time to grow. It’s a good option if you missed the fall window or want to experiment, but for full-sized bulbs, fall planting is the way to go.
Choosing the Right Garlic for Pennsylvania Gardens
There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Your choice impacts flavor, storage, and planting details.
- Hardneck Garlic: This type is best suited for Pennsylvania’s colder winters. It produces a hard central stalk called a scape and has fewer, larger cloves per bulb. The flavor is often more complex and robust. It’s ideal for our climate but doesn’t store quite as long as softneck.
- Softneck Garlic: Better for milder areas, softneck garlic lacks the hard central stalk. It produces more cloves per bulb and stores excellently, making it the type you commonly see in supermarkets. It can still grow well in PA, especially in warmer southern regions.
Always buy seed garlic from a reputable nursery or garden center. Using garlic from the grocery store is risky, as it may be treated to prevent sprouting and is often not suited to our local conditions.
Step-by-Step Guide to Planting Garlic
Follow these simple steps for planting success.
1. Prepare Your Planting Bed
Garlic thrives in loose, fertile soil with good drainage. Choose a spot that gets full sun.
- Work the soil to a depth of at least 8-10 inches.
- Mix in several inches of compost or well-rotted manure. This improves fertility and soil structure.
- Avoid fresh manure, as it can be to strong and may harbor pathogens.
2. Separate and Select Cloves
Carefully break apart your seed garlic bulb into individual cloves. Do this just before planting to keep the basal plate (the root end) intact.
- Select the largest, healthiest-looking cloves for planting. The size of the clove directly influences the size of the harvested bulb.
- Plant the small cloves from the inner parts of the bulb? You can, but they’ll yield very small bulbs. It’s better to use them in the kitchen.
3. Planting Depth and Spacing
- Plant each clove pointy-end up, root-end down.
- Push them into the soil so the tip is about 2 inches below the surface.
- Space cloves 4-6 inches apart in rows that are 12 inches apart.
4. Mulch Heavily After Planting
This is a critical step for Pennsylvania winters. After planting, water the bed well if the soil is dry. Then, apply a 4-6 inch layer of straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings.
The mulch insulates the soil, prevents heaving from freeze-thaw cycles, and suppresses weeds. In spring, you can leave a lighter layer of mulch to continue supressing weeds.
Caring for Your Garlic Through the Seasons
Garlic is low-maintenance, but it does need some attention.
Spring Care
As the weather warms, green shoots will emerge through the mulch. Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy. Side-dress with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer like blood meal or a balanced organic fertilizer in early spring to fuel leaf growth.
For hardneck varieties, you’ll see scapes (curly flower stalks) appear in early summer. Cut these off when they make one full curl. This directs the plant’s energy back into bulbing, plus the scapes are a delicious bonus harvest!
Summer and Watering
Continue watering regularly through spring and early summer. As harvest approaches in late June or July, ease off on watering. The last few weeks of dry conditions help the bulbs cure and develop their protective papery skins.
How to Know When to Harvest Garlic in PA
Timing the harvest is key. Harvest too early, and bulbs will be small; too late, and the cloves may burst from their skins.
Watch for these signs in late June through July:
- The bottom 3-4 leaves turn yellow or brown, while the top 5-6 leaves remain green.
- For hardneck types, this happens a few weeks after you’ve removed the scapes.
Gently dig up a test bulb to check. The cloves should be well-formed and the skin tight. Use a garden fork to loosen the soil and lift the bulbs, being careful not to bruise them.
Curing and Storing Your Garlic Harvest
Proper curing ensures your garlic stores for months.
- Brush off excess soil, but do not wash the bulbs.
- Move them to a warm, dry, airy place out of direct sun—like a garage, shed, or covered porch.
- Hang them in bunches or lay them on a rack. Allow them to cure for 3-4 weeks.
- Once the necks are tight and the outer skin is papery, trim the roots and cut the stalks (or braid softnecks).
- Store in a cool, dark, dry place. Hardneck varieties typically store for 4-6 months, while softnecks can last up to 9-12 months.
Common Problems and Solutions for PA Garlic Growers
Garlic has few pests, but here are some to watch for:
- White Rot: A fungal disease causing yellow leaves and white mold on bulbs. There’s no cure; rotate your garlic bed on a 4-year cycle to prevent it.
- Onion Maggots: These can damage bulbs. Use row covers in spring to prevent the fly from laying eggs.
- Poor Bulb Formation: Often caused by planting to shallow, inconsistent watering, or not removing scapes from hardneck varieties.
FAQ: Planting Garlic in Pennsylvania
What is the best month to plant garlic in Pennsylvania?
For most of the state, October is the ideal month. In colder northern areas, lean toward early October. In warmer southern areas, you can plant into early November.
Can I use store-bought garlic to plant?
It’s not recommended. Grocery store garlic is often treated with a sprout inhibitor and may be a variety unsuited to our climate. Invest in certified disease-free seed garlic for the best results.
How deep should I plant garlic cloves?
Plant cloves about 2 inches deep, measured from the tip of the clove to the soil surface. In lighter, sandy soils, you can go a bit deeper.
Do I need to water garlic after planting in the fall?
If the soil is dry at planting time, give the bed a good watering to help settle the soil and initiate root growth. After that, winter precipitation usually provides enough moisture until spring.
Why did my garlic come up in the fall?
A few green shoots are normal, but significant growth usually means you planted to early. The cloves should mainly put energy into root growth, not top growth, before winter. A thick layer of mulch can help protect any green shoots that do emerge.
By following this guide and timing your planting correctly, you’ll give your garlic the best possible start. The wait from fall to summer is long, but the reward of homegrown, flavorful garlic is well worth it. Remember to save some of your largest, best-formed bulbs to use as seed stock for next year’s crop, continuing the cycle in your own garden.