Garlic is one of those crops that asks you to think about next summer while you’re still cleaning up this year’s garden. Plant too early, and warm fall weather can encourage more top growth than you want before winter; wait until the soil is frozen solid, and you’ve missed the easiest opportunity for the cloves to establish roots. The sweet spot for when to plant garlic usually arrives after fall has clearly settled in but before the ground becomes unworkable. That may mean October for many gardeners, September in colder regions, or even November where winter arrives later. Getting the timing right gives each clove a chance to establish underground before spending winter preparing for its big spring push.
