Overwintering Your Garden in Zone 7A (USA): How to Grow Garlic

Garlic is a garden rockstar.

Plant it in the fall, and it does its thing underground all winter, ready for a triumphant harvest the following summer. It’s the ultimate slow-burning crop, building flavor and health benefits over months. If you live in Zone 7a, here’s how you can grow your own fantastic garlic.

Step 1: Prepare for Planting

Don't just grab a bulb from the grocery store! For the best results, you want seed garlic. This garlic is specifically grown for planting and is less likely to carry diseases. You can find it online or at local nurseries in the fall.

Planting time is crucial. For Zone 7a, the ideal time is from late September through November, right after the first light frost. The goal is to get the roots established before the ground freezes solid.

Step 2: Plant Your Cloves

First, gently break the garlic bulb into individual cloves. Be careful not to damage the papery skin. Each clove will grow into a new bulb, so the bigger the clove, the bigger the potential harvest.

Find a sunny spot in your garden with well-draining soil. Plant each clove root-side down, about 2 inches deep, and with 6 inches of space between them. Think of it like a little garlic army, each with its own personal space to grow.

Step 3: Winter Care

After planting, cover the bed with a thick layer of mulch—about 4 to 6 inches of straw, shredded leaves, or wood chips. This is super important! The mulch acts as a blanket, protecting your garlic from the harsh winter cold and helping prevent frost heaving, when the freezing and thawing ground pushes the cloves out of the soil.

Water your garlic lightly after planting. You want the soil moist, not soggy. Once the ground freezes, you can stop watering until spring. The garlic will be dormant and won’t need any moisture.

Step 4: Spring Growth and Scape Removal

In early spring, as the weather warms, you'll see green shoots emerge. Once they are a few inches tall, you can pull back some of the mulch to let the soil warm up. Keep the bed free of weeds, as they compete with the garlic for nutrients.

Around late May to early June, some garlic varieties will send up a curling flower stalk called a garlic scape. This is a culinary treat! Snap or cut them off to redirect the plant’s energy into growing a bigger, more flavorful bulb. You can use the scapes in stir-fries, pesto, or soups.

Step 5: The Great Harvest

Around late June, your garlic will be ready to harvest. You’ll know it’s time when the bottom two or three leaves turn yellow and begin to dry out.

Use a garden fork to gently loosen the soil around the bulbs and lift them out of the ground. Be careful not to pull the stalks, as this can break them. Once out, brush off the excess dirt, but don't wash them.

Curing your garlic is a must for long-term storage. Lay the bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated area—a garage, porch, or shed works great. After a few weeks, the outer skins will be papery and dry. You can then trim the roots and stalks, and store your harvest in a cool, dark place.

You’ve done it!

You’ve taken a little clove and, with a little patience, turned it into a year’s supply of homegrown garlic. Now you have a constant source of this incredible flavor enhancer right from your own garden.