Garlic Growth Time: Expert Tips for Every Season

Our season-by-season guide to growing garlic, including a description of hardneck and softneck varieties, what to do with garlic scapes, and more.

By Roberta Bailey
Updated on September 11, 2024
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by Adobestock/008melisa
Young garlic and red onions in a vegetable box. Concept- organic vegetables, healthy food.

Learn how to start garlic, different garlic types including when to harvest hardneck garlic, and details about garlic growth time through each season.

If I could grow only one crop, it would be garlic: pungent, mouthwatering, plump-cloved, health-promoting garlic. Over the years, I have learned some tricks on how to grow garlic that’s truly exceptional. Before you dig in, you need to know the basic types to choose from.

Garlic Types

Garlic (Allium sativum) is divided into two subspecies: var. ophioscorodon and var. sativum. Most often planted in climates with cold winters, ophioscorodon garlic is called “top-setting,” “ophio” or “hardneck” garlic; the family includes Rocambole, Continental and Asiatic types. Leaves grow from a hard, central stalk, and then an edible scape (flower head) forms, with tiny buds called “bulbils.” Most hardneck varieties form four to eight cloves around the central stalk’s base. Their flavor tends to be pungent, but often has subtle notes.

The sativum varieties do well in all climates. Called “softneck” or “artichoke” garlic, heads tend to be large, with 12 to 20 small cloves and no central stalk. Leaves, which sprout directly from each clove, are quite flexible and best for braiding. Generally, softneck garlic can be either pungent or mild, but lacks subtlety.

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