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 | — | Aug 15 – Sep 30 |
| Zone 4 | — | Aug 25 – Oct 10 |
| Zone 5 | — | Sep 4 – Oct 20 |
| Zone 6 | — | Sep 14 – Oct 30 |
| Zone 7 | — | Sep 24 – Nov 9 |
| Zone 8 | — | Oct 15 – Nov 30 |
| Zone 9 | — | Nov 4 – Dec 20 |
| Zone 10 | — | Nov 14 – Dec 30 |
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Yield
About 1 count per plant over ~1 productive weeks (~0.2 lb).
Watch for
Onion thrips · Onion maggot · Downy mildew — 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-slicing. 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
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.