Garlic is one of the most rewarding crops you can grow in your Ontario garden. Knowing exactly when to plant garlic in Ontario Canada is the single most important step for a successful fall harvests next summer. Planting at the right time allows the cloves to establish roots before winter without sending up green shoots, ensuring they get the cold period they need to form big, beautiful bulbs.
This guide will walk you through the perfect timing, the best varieties for our climate, and the simple steps to get your garlic in the ground this fall. Let’s get started.
When to Plant Garlic in Ontario Canada
The golden rule for Ontario gardeners is to plant garlic in the fall, not the spring. Spring-planted garlic often results in disappointingly small bulbs because it misses the essential winter chilling period, called vernalization.
The ideal planting window is typically from early October to mid-November. However, this can shift slightly depending on your specific location and the weather each year. The goal is to get cloves into the ground about 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes solid for winter.
This timing gives the cloves just enough time to develop a robust root system—sometimes even a small bit of green growth—before going dormant under the snow. They then rest until early spring, when they are ready to burst into growth.
Why Fall Planting is Non-Negotiable
Garlic is a bulb that requires a cold dormancy period to trigger proper bulb development. Without this cold signal, the plant won’t devide into multiple cloves properly. Fall planting mimics the natural life cycle of wild garlic.
It also gives the plants a huge head start. While you’re cozy inside during a January blizzard, your garlic has already settled in. Come the first warm days of April, it’s ready to grow vigorously, leading to much larger and healthier bulbs than any spring-planted cloves could produce.
Adjusting for Your Ontario Region
Ontario’s vast size means microclimates vary. Use these regional guidelines as a starting point:
* Southern Ontario (e.g., Windsor, London, Toronto, Niagara): Aim for mid-October to early November. The ground stays warmer longer here, so planting too early in September can cause excessive top growth that may be damaged by frost.
* Central Ontario (e.g., Ottawa, Kingston, Barrie, Peterborough): Target early to late October. Keep a close eye on soil temperatures and frost forecasts.
* Northern Ontario (e.g., Sudbury, Thunder Bay): The window is earlier and shorter. Aim for late September to mid-October to ensure roots establish before the deep freeze sets in.
The best indicator is not the calendar, but soil temperature. When the soil cools to about 10°C (50°F) at a depth of 4 inches, it’s prime time. You can use a simple soil thermometer to check.
Choosing the Right Garlic for Ontario
You’ll find two main types of garlic: Hardneck and Softneck. For Ontario, hardneck varieties are generally the best choice because they are extremely cold-hardy and thrive in our winters.
Hardneck Garlic:
* Produces a hard, central stalk called a scape.
* Offers complex, rich flavors that vary by variety.
* Has fewer, larger cloves per bulb that are easier to peel.
* Top Ontario Varieties: Music, German White, Russian Red, Persian Star.
Softneck Garlic:
* Better suited to milder climates, but some do well in Southern Ontario.
* Stores longer than hardneck varieties.
* Produces more cloves per bulb, often in multiple layers.
Does not produce a scape.
* Top Ontario Varieties: Italian Late, Silverskin.
Always source your planting stock from a reputable local nursery, seed company, or farmers’ market. Do not plant garlic from the grocery store, as it is often treated to prevent sprouting and may carry soil-borne diseases not suited to our region.
Step-by-Step Planting Guide
Follow these numbered steps for a foolproof planting day.
1. Prepare Your Soil: Garlic loves loose, fertile, and well-draining soil. Choose a sunny spot. A few weeks before planting, work in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. Avoid fresh manure, as it can harm the cloves.
2. Break the Bulbs: On the day of planting, gently break apart your seed garlic bulbs into individual cloves. Keep the papery husk on each clove—it protects them. Only plant the largest, healthiest-looking cloves. The small ones from the center won’t produce good-sized bulbs.
3. Planting Depth and Spacing: This is crucial. Plant cloves pointy side up, root side down. The general rule is to plant them 2-3 inches deep. In lighter, sandier soil, go for 3 inches. In heavier clay, 2 inches may be sufficient to prevent rot. Space cloves 6-8 inches apart in rows that are 12 inches apart.
4. Cover and Mulch: Once all cloves are planted, cover them with soil and pat it down gently. Then, apply a thick layer of mulch, about 4-6 inches deep. Straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings work perfectly. This mulch insulates the soil, prevents frost heave, and suppresses weeds in the spring.
Essential Post-Planting Care
Your job isn’t quite done after planting. Here’s what to expect and do next:
* Watering: Give the bed a good watering after planting if the soil is dry. The goal is moist, not soggy, soil to encourage root growth. After that, natural fall rains are usually sufficient.
* Winter Rest: Once mulched, you can essentially forget about the garlic until spring. The mulch will protect it through the coldest months.
* Spring Care: As soon as the snow melts and shoots appear, gently pull back some mulch to let them through. Keep the bed weeded and water if the spring is dry.
* Scape Removal: In early summer, your hardneck garlic will send up a curly flower stalk called a scape. You must cut this off when it makes one or two loops. This directs the plant’s energy back into bulbing. The good news is, scapes are a delicious seasonal treat for stir-fries and pestos!
Harvesting and Curing for Storage
Knowing when to harvest is as important as knowing when to plant. Harvest typically happens in late July to early August in Ontario.
Watch for these signs:
* The bottom 3-4 leaves have turned brown and dry.
* The top leaves are still slightly green.
* A test bulb, when pulled, has well-formed, plump cloves with tight skins.
To harvest, loosen the soil with a garden fork and gently lift the bulbs. Do not pull by the stem, as it can break.
Curing is Essential: Brush off excess dirt, but don’t wash the bulbs. Hang them in bunches or lay them on a rack in a warm, dry, dark, and well-ventilated place (like a garage or shed) for 3-4 weeks. This process dries the outer layers and prepares them for long-term storage. Once the necks are tight and papery, trim the roots and stems, and store your homegrown Ontario garlic in a cool, dark spot.
Common Problems and Solutions
* Rotting Cloves: Caused by planting in poorly draining soil or planting too deeply in heavy clay. Ensure good drainage and adjust your depth.
* Frost Heave: Cloves pushed out of the ground by freeze-thaw cycles. A thick mulch layer prevents this.
* Small Bulbs: Often due to spring planting, inadequate sunlight, poor soil fertility, or not removing scapes.
* Weeds: Garlic hates competition. Keep the bed meticulously weeded, especially in spring.
FAQ: Your Garlic Questions Answered
Q: Can I plant garlic from the grocery store in Ontario?
A: It’s not recommended. Store-bought garlic is often from warmer climates (like China or California), may be treated with sprout inhibitors, and could introduce disease to your garden soil.
Q: What happens if I plant garlic too early in the fall?
A: If planted too early (e.g., September), cloves may send up too much green growth above ground. This tender growth can be damaged by winter frosts, weakening the plant and reducing your final yield.
Q: What if I miss the fall window? Can I plant garlic in spring in Ontario?
A: You can, but the results will be inferior. Spring-planted garlic misses the vernalization period, often resulting in a single large clove (called a “round”) or very small, undivided bulbs. It’s always best to wait for the next fall.
Q: How do I save my own garlic for planting next year?
A: At harvest, set aside your largest, healthiest bulbs. Store them as you would for eating, but in a spot with good air circulation. Re-plant the biggest cloves from these bulbs in the fall. This practice, done over years, actually selects for garlic that thrives in your specific garden conditions.
Getting the timing right is the foundation of a great garlic harvest. By marking your calendar for that key October to November window, choosing hardy varieties, and following these simple steps, you’ll be on your way to a bountiful harvest of your own homegrown garlic next summer. There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction of pulling up your own perfectly formed bulbs, knowing you started them at just the right moment.