root · direct sow
Garlic: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating garlic a few times a week needs about 3 plants in ~2 sq ft, worth about $5 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$8.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 1 | ~1 sq ft | ~2 | ~$2 |
| 2 people | 2 | ~1 sq ft | ~4 | ~$3 |
| 4 people | 3 | ~2 sq ft | ~5 | ~$5 |
| 6 people | 4 | ~2 sq ft | ~7 | ~$6 |
Spacing
6" in row · 12" between rows
Sow depth
2"
Days to harvest
240 from seed
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | Sep 15 – Sep 30 |
| Zone 4 | — | Sep 25 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 5 | — | Oct 5 – Oct 20 |
| Zone 6 | — | Oct 15 – Oct 30 |
| Zone 7 | — | Oct 25 – Nov 9 |
| Zone 8 | — | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
| Zone 9 | — | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
| Zone 10 | — | Oct 1 – Nov 30 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
When the bottom 3 to 4 leaves have browned but the top 5 to 6 are still green, dig a test bulb: cloves should fill their skins tight.
Don't wait: All-brown tops mean the wrappers are splitting underground, those bulbs won't store.
Yield
About 1 count per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.2 lb).
Watch for
Onion thrips · Onion maggot · Downy mildew · White rot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with tomato. Keep away from bush bean, snap pea.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
149 kcal · 2.1 g fiber · 31.2 mg vitamin C · 401 mg potassium
When to plant garlic in your state
Pick your state for exact sow windows.
Each page keys garlicto that state's typical frost dates, with spring and fall windows and the indoor-start date where it helps.
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Garlic keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Garlic planting questions
How many garlic plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 1 plant per person. A family of 4 needs about 3 plants, which takes around 2 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does garlic need?+
Space plants 6" apart in the row with 12" between rows. Sow 2" deep. Direct sow in the bed.
When should I plant garlic?+
It depends on your frost dates. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing garlic worth it?+
At about $8.00/lb retail and ~0.2 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $5 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.