When To Plant Garlic In Rhode Island

If you want a successful harvest, knowing when to plant garlic in Rhode Island is the most important step. Get the timing right, and you’re well on your way to large, flavorful bulbs next summer.

This guide gives you the simple, practical steps for planting, growing, and harvesting garlic in the Ocean State. We’ll cover the best dates, varieties, and techniques tailored to our local climate.

The short answer is fall. Garlic needs a period of cold weather to develop properly. This process, called vernalization, triggers the bulb to split into cloves.

In Rhode Island, the ideal planting window is from mid-October to mid-November. The goal is to get cloves in the ground after the first light frosts but before the soil freezes solid.

Planting too early (like September) can cause the garlic to send up too much top growth before winter, which can be damaged. Planting to late (like December) doesn’t give the cloves enough time to establish roots before the deep freeze.

A good rule of thumb is to plant around Columbus Day and aim to finish by Thanksgiving. The soil should be cool, around 50°F.

Why Fall Planting is Essential

Garlic is not like other vegetables you plant in spring. It requires that cold period to form bulbs. If you plant in spring, you’ll often get a single, round bulb without separated cloves, called a “round.”

Fall planting allows the clove to:

Develop a robust root system before winter dormancy.
Get the necessary chill hours for proper clove formation.
Be ready to explode with growth the moment spring warmth arrives, giving it a long growing season.

Choosing Your Garlic Type: Hardneck vs. Softneck

There are two main types, and your choice affects harvest time and use.

Hardneck Garlic: This is the best choice for Rhode Island’s cold winters. It produces a hard, central stalk (the “scape”) and has fewer, larger cloves per bulb. The flavor is complex and often stronger. It’s perfectly adapted to our climate.

Softneck Garlic: This type stores longer and is what you typically see in supermarkets. It prefers milder winters but many varieties grow fine here. It has more cloves per bulb and no hard central scape, making it good for braiding.

For beginners in RI, start with a hardneck variety like ‘Music,’ ‘German Extra Hardy,’ or ‘Chesnok Red.’ You can buy seed garlic from local farm stands or reputable online suppliers in early fall.

Preparing Your Planting Site

Garlic needs full sun—at least 6-8 hours daily. The soil must be well-drained. Garlic sitting in wet soil all winter will rot.

Follow these steps to prepare:

Clear the area of weeds and old plant debris.
Loosen the soil deeply, about 8-12 inches down. Add several inches of compost or well-rotted manure to improve fertility and drainage.
Avoid fresh manure, as it can harm the bulbs and introduce disease.
Consider a soil test. Garlic prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0. Your local URI Master Gardener program can help with testing.

How to Plant Garlic Cloves Step-by-Step

Break the bulb. Gently break apart your seed garlic bulb into individual cloves. Do this just before planting to keep the basal plate (the root spot) intact.
Select the best cloves. Plant only the largest, healthiest-looking cloves. The bigger the clove, the bigger the potential bulb. Use smaller cloves for cooking.
Don’t peel them. Leave the papery skin on each clove for protection.
Plant pointy-end up. This is critical. The pointed tip is where the shoot emerges. The flat, rooted end goes down.
Depth and spacing. Plant cloves 2-3 inches deep. Space them 4-6 inches apart in rows that are 12 inches apart.
Cover and mulch. Cover the cloves with soil and pat gently. Then, apply a 4-6 inch layer of mulch like straw, chopped leaves, or hay. This insulates the soil, prevents frost heave, and suppresses weeds.

That’s it! Water them in after planting if the soil is dry, but they won’t need much more attention until spring.

Spring and Summer Care in Rhode Island

In early spring, you’ll see green shoots poking through the mulch. Here’s what to do next:

Leave the mulch in place to control weeds and retain moisture.
Watering: Garlic needs about 1 inch of water per week from spring until about two weeks before harvest. If spring is dry, you’ll need to supplement.
Fertilizing: In early spring, side-dress with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer like blood meal or a balanced organic fertilizer. Repeat once more in mid-May as the bulbs begin to swell.
Scape Removal (for Hardnecks): In early June, hardneck garlic will send up a curly flower stalk called a scape. Cut this off when it makes one full curl. This directs the plant’s energy into making a bigger bulb. Plus, garlic scapes are a delicious seasonal treat to use in pesto or stir-fries!

When and How to Harvest Your Garlic

Harvest time in Rhode Island is typically late June through July. Hardnecks mature a few weeks earlier than softnecks. Watch for these signs, not just the calendar:

The bottom 3-4 leaves turn yellow or brown.
The top leaves are still mostly green.
The plant begins to look a bit “tired.”

Do not wait for all the leaves to turn brown. If you do, the bulb’s paper wrapper may have degraded, and it won’t store well.

To harvest:

On a dry day, gently loosen the soil with a garden fork, being careful not to stab the bulbs.
Lift the plants and brush off excess soil. Avoid washing the bulbs, as moisture causes rot during curing.
Handle them gently to avoid bruising.

Curing and Storing Your Harvest

Curing is essential for long storage. It dries the outer layers and concentrates the flavor.

Bundle 5-10 plants together and hang them, or lay them in a single layer on a rack.
Place them in a warm, dry, well-ventilated, and shady spot for 3-4 weeks. A garage, shed, or covered porch is perfect.
Once the necks are completely tight and dry (like a paper bag) and the outer skin is papery, they are cured.
Trim the roots and cut the stalks, leaving about an inch above the bulb for hardnecks. Softnecks can be braided.
Store in a cool (50-60°F), dark, and dry place. Properly cured hardneck garlic can store for 5-8 months, while softnecks last longer.

Common Problems and Solutions

Garlic is relatively pest-free, but here’s what to watch for:

Rotting Cloves: Caused by poor drainage. Ensure your bed is well-drained and you used healthy seed stock.
Onion Maggots: Less common, but floating row covers at planting can prevent them.
Weeds: A thick mulch layer is your best defense against weeds competing with your garlic.

FAQ: Planting Garlic in Rhode Island

Can I plant grocery store garlic?

It’s not recommended. Grocery garlic is often treated to prevent sprouting and may be varieties unsuited for our climate. Always buy certified disease-free seed garlic.

What if I miss the fall planting window?

You can try planting very early in the spring as soon as the soil is workable. The bulbs will be smaller, but you’ll still get something. Refrigerate your seed garlic for a few weeks first to simulate winter.

How do I save my own garlic to plant next year?

Set aside your largest, best-formed bulbs from your harvest. Store them as normal, and then use them as your seed cloves in the fall. This way you can develop a strain that’s perfectly adapted to your specific garden.

My garlic sprouted very early in a warm fall spell. Is that okay?

A little green growth in late fall is normal and fine. The mulch will protect it. It’s only a problem if it sends up several inches of growth before winter, which is why we avoid planting to early.

Getting the timing right makes all the difference. By following these steps for when to plant garlic in Rhode Island, you’ll be rewarded with a homegrown stash that’s far superior to anything you can buy. The process is simple, and the reward is a full years supply of flavor from your own backyard.