Cool-season produce

Garlic

Allium sativum

Also known as Garlic cloves · Hardneck garlic · Softneck garlic

Do not plant a whole bulb. Keep beds weed-free and reduce water as leaves brown before spring harvest.

EdibleCool-season crop

Growing spaceVegetable bed

Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Crop familyAmaryllidaceae (allium)

Life cycleAnnual crop

Phoenix planting windowOctober, when Maricopa's calendar lists cloves; early November may suit a mild year.

How to plantPlant individual cloves point up; select locally adapted softneck types or proven low-chill selections.

Plant spacing4–6 in

FrostGenerally tolerates normal Valley winter frost.

Time to harvestAbout 5–7 months

SuccessionOne autumn planting.

Special categoriesEDIBLE

Typical harvestSpring bulbs; green garlic can be pulled earlier.

Right plant, right place

Will Garlic grow at your Arizona property?

Do not plant a whole bulb. Keep beds weed-free and reduce water as leaves brown before spring harvest.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

1
Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.
2
Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.
3
Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.
4
Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.