Garlic - How Long Does It Take For Garlic To Grow?

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a rewarding crop to grow in your garden, known for its flavorful bulbs and ease of cultivation. The time it takes for garlic to grow and mature depends on several factors, including the variety, planting method, and growing conditions. Here’s a detailed exploration of the growth timeline for garlic:

Growth Timeline Based on Varieties and Planting Methods

Garlic from Cloves:
- Mature Bulb Harvest: Typically takes around 9 months from planting cloves to mature bulb harvest.
- Planting Time: Cloves are planted in either fall or spring, depending on your USDA hardiness zone and climate.
Short-Season Varieties:
- Some garlic varieties are classified as short-season, which means they have a quicker growth cycle than standard varieties.
- Growth Duration: Short-season varieties can mature in as little as 6-7 months, making them ideal for regions with shorter growing seasons or for gardeners who want an earlier harvest.
Garlic from Seeds (Bulbils):
- Extended Growth Time: If starting garlic from true seeds (bulbils), the process is longer. It involves germination, green growth for photosynthesis, and then bulb formation.
- Growth Duration: From seed to mature bulb can take over a year, making this method less common for home gardeners due to the extended timeline and complexity.

Factors Influencing Growth Time

Planting Time: Fall-planted garlic is the norm because it benefits from cold winter temperatures (vernalization), which promote bulb formation. Spring-planted garlic has a shorter time frame to mature but is generally less common due to the need for specific conditions.
Variety: Hardneck and softneck garlic varieties have different growth habits. Hardneck garlic typically matures earlier than softneck garlic due to its colder climate adaptations and fewer cloves per bulb.

Timing by USDA Hardiness Zones

Zones 0-3: Late August to late September for fall planting; early spring for spring planting.
Zones 3-5: Mid-September to mid-October for fall planting; late spring for spring planting.
Zones 5-7: Early to mid-October for fall planting; early spring for spring planting.
Zones 7-9: Late October to November for fall planting; early spring for spring planting.
Zones 9-10: Late October to December for fall planting; early spring for spring planting.

Harvest Indicators by Variety

Hardneck Garlic: Ready for harvest when the lower third of the leaves turn yellow. This typically occurs in early to mid-summer for fall-planted varieties.
Softneck Garlic: Harvest when the tops of the leaves start to brown and dry. Softneck garlic often matures slightly later than hardneck varieties.

Elephant Garlic

Unique Characteristics: Elephant garlic, despite its name, is not true garlic but a type of leek. It produces very large cloves and has a quicker growth cycle compared to true garlic.
Harvest Time: Ready for harvest within approximately 90 days after planting, making it a fast option for those wanting a quicker turnaround.

Harvesting Garlic Greens

Multiple Harvests: Garlic greens can be harvested multiple times throughout the growing season. They are ready in late spring and early summer and do not require the bulb to be harvested simultaneously.

Looking for more information? Check out the full article on our blog:

How Long Does It Take For Garlic To Grow?

Written by Sarah Jay

LAST UPDATED: JUNE 22, 2023