planting garlic

When To Plant Garlic In Arizona

Arizona is a great place to grow garlic due to its hot and dry climate. With just the right amount of sun, water, and soil, garlic can thrive in this environment. Garlic is a hardy crop, able to survive the heat of the desert and the long, hot summer days. It is also relatively low maintenance, as it requires very little fertilizer and can be harvested in just a few months. With a little bit of knowledge and dedication, you can have a successful garlic-growing experience in Arizona.

Arizona’s climate and hardiness zones

Arizona is known for its desert climate, with hot temperatures and very low annual rainfall. Average temperatures range from 65-85 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter months and 85-105 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer. Arizona also has four distinct seasons. Spring is typically mild and dry, while summer is hot and dry. Fall is mild and dry, while winter is warm and dry.

The USDA plant hardiness zones for Arizona range from 4b-9a. When planting in Arizona, it is important to consider the hardiness zones and the climate. Planting plants that are not suited to the climate may not survive or thrive. It is also important to consider the amount of water the plants will need and if they are able to tolerate the heat. Garlic will grow well in any of Arizona’s growing zones.

When to plant spring garlic in Arizona

Garlic can be planted in the spring or fall in Arizona. For spring planting garlic, you will want to purchase some high-quality garlic starter bulbs. You can plant garlic you find in the store, but selecting cloves that are specifically made for growing will yield better results.

When selecting garlic, you want to make sure the bulbs are firm and have no visible signs of decay. Any bulbs which are mushy  Once you have your bulbs, you will need to separate the cloves and plant them in the ground. 

Garlic can be planted outdoors once the weather has warmed and the soil can be worked. It’s among the earliest crops you can sow in the spring. When planting garlic, make sure to space the cloves at least 6 inches apart in a sunny area with well-drained soil. Plant the cloves two inches deep in the soil so that the pointed end is facing up. Water the garlic regularly and keep it free of weeds. 

You can mulch your spring-planted garlic with dried leaves or straw to help retain moisture and suppress the growth of weeds. Garlic planted in the spring in Arizona won’t have as much time to grow as fall planted garlic, so your harvest in the fall may yield slightly smaller bulbs.

Aged manure, compost, and fresh rabbit manure are all great things to add at this time. I keep rabbits for their manure and always throw on a nice layer of rabbit manure when planting fall garlic.

When to plant fall garlic in Arizona

Some gardeners consider planting garlic in the fall in Arizona to be advantageous because it allows the garlic bulbs to get a head start on the growing season. In fall, they’ll begin to put down roots but likely won’t send up any growth. Those early roots are important for the plant’s development. As soon as the soil is warm enough to spur new growth, your garlic bulbs will be ready to rock and roll.

The exact timing for planting fall garlic will depend on your climate zone. The old-fashioned rule of thumb is to plant them right after the autumn equinox in September, but if you live in a very cold climate, you may want to get them in the ground a little bit before this date. If you live in a warmer climate, you can probably wait all the way until the middle of October to get them started. Knowing your climate is key to knowing when exactly to plant your fall garlic.

Planting garlic is extremely easy. If you’ve purchased bulbs from a nursery, you’re going to want to very carefully break up the bulb and free all of the cloves. Don’t get too aggressive! You don’t want to smash any of the bulbs by accident. Gently rubbing them between your hands should liberate the individual cloves.

Dig holes in a row three inches deep and six inches apart from one another. Carefully drop the cloves of garlic into each hole with the pointed side pointing up. Press them gently into the soil. Don’t jam them in too hard or deep. Cover the bulbs with an even layer of soil.

Aged manure, compost, and fresh rabbit manure are all great things to add at this time. I keep rabbits for their manure and always throw on a nice layer of rabbit manure when planting fall garlic.

Caring for garlic plants

Soil: Garlic plants require nutrient-rich, well-draining soil to thrive. Amend the soil with plenty of organic material such as compost or aged manure before planting. Garlic doesn’t do well in compacted, clay soils, so be sure to loosen up the soil!

Sunlight: Garlic needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day, but preferably 8-10 hours of sunlight daily. Choose a location that gets plenty of sunlight. Insufficient sunlight may result in garlic that doesn’t thrive or produce bulbs.

Water: Garlic plants need between 0.5 and 1 inch of water per week, with ideal drainage in the soil. If there is not enough rainfall to reach this amount, it is necessary to water the plants manually to make up for it. Make sure to water deeply and infrequently, as too little or too much water can be damaging to the plants – too little can cause stress, and too much can lead to bulb rot.

Fertilizer: Aged manure, compost, and fresh rabbit manure are all great, natural fertilizers to provide your garlic bulbs. It’s best to provide these once at the time you plant your garlic bulbs.

When to harvest garlic in Arizona

The exact timing for when fall garlic is ready to be harvested in Arizona varies. Typically they’re ready to harvest in late summer to mid-fall. The timing doesn’t matter as much as the appearance of the crop. You know it’s time to harvest your fall garlic when its lower third leaves have turned brown and died, but its upper foliage is still nice and green.

It can be a little hard to know for sure that it’s time to harvest your garlic, but generally, if those bottom leaves are brown, it’s time to harvest. If they’re still green, it’s too early. There will be some green foliage at the tops of the plants, but don’t let that fool you. If those lower leaves are brown, it’s time to get down in the ground and dig up that garlic!

Cody Medina
Small Scale Farmer
Hi there! I'm Cody, a staff writer here at The Garden Magazine and a small-scale farmer living in Oregon. I've been gardening most of my life and now live on a quarter-acre farmstead with chickens, ducks, and a big garden.