Why I Always Plant Garlic in September (and Never Regret It)

🧄 Bigger, More Flavorful Bulbs

Gardeners who plant garlic in spring often end up with small, single-clove bulbs. Why? Because garlic simply doesn’t have enough time to divide and grow properly.

Planting in September gives cloves 9–10 months to mature, producing:

• Larger bulbs.
• More evenly developed cloves.
• Stronger, richer flavor (perfect for cooking and preserving).

Every time I harvest, I can taste the difference.

🌸 An Easy, Low-Maintenance Crop

Another reason I swear by September garlic planting is that it’s nearly effortless:

1. Break apart a bulb into individual cloves.
2. Plant each clove, pointy side up, about 2 inches deep and 4–6 inches apart.
3. Cover with soil and add a layer of mulch (straw, leaves, or compost).

That’s it! Garlic practically takes care of itself over winter and early spring, requiring little attention until it’s time to harvest in summer.

🌾 Garlic Improves the Garden, Too

Garlic isn’t just a crop—it’s a natural garden ally. Studies and experience show that garlic:

• Repels common pests like aphids, Japanese beetles, and even rabbits.
• Improves soil health with its natural sulfur compounds.
• Can be interplanted with flowers or vegetables as a natural protector.

By planting in September, you’re adding a living defense system to your garden.

🍴 The Joy of a Summer Harvest

There’s nothing quite like harvesting garlic in early to mid-summer. By then, most gardeners are just starting to enjoy their tomatoes and peppers—but my garlic is already ready to cure and store.

• It lasts for months in storage.
• I always keep the biggest bulbs to replant next September.
• It’s a self-sustaining cycle—my garlic patch has thrived year after year without buying new seed garlic.

🌟 Final Thoughts

Every September, as the days get shorter and the air turns crisp, I make sure to plant garlic. It’s one of the simplest gardening tasks, but the rewards are enormous: bigger bulbs, richer flavors, natural pest control, and a harvest that carries me through the year.

That’s why I always plant garlic in September—and I never regret it.