Does garlic grow well in Minnesota?
Yes, you can grow garlic in your northern garden, and choosing the right one for your region will help ensure a successful harvest. Garlic is a versatile crop with two main types: hardneck and softneck. Each variety has specific characteristics that make it better suited to particular climates, and understanding these differences is key to a thriving garlic crop.
Softneck vs. hardneck garlic
Hardneck Garlic
Hardneck garlic produces a flowering stalk, or "scape," in early summer, with a single row of large cloves around the central stalk beneath the soil. Although it has fewer cloves per bulb than softneck garlic, many find its flavor more intense. Hardneck varieties are typically more winter-hardy, making them ideal for short-season gardens. After harvesting and curing, they store for up to six months.
Softneck Garlic
Softneck garlic, often grown in milder regions, isn’t as winter-hardy as hardneck types. It produces bulbs packed with numerous cloves (sometimes over 20), ranging from small to large. Without a central stalk, softneck garlic has flexible stems, which can be braided for drying. It stores exceptionally well, staying firm and flavorful for up to a year.
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Why not to plant store-bought garlic
While it might be tempting to plant garlic cloves from the grocery store, this is generally not recommended. Many commercially sold garlic bulbs are treated with chemicals to inhibit sprouting and prolong shelf life. This makes it unsuitable for planting in the garden since treated cloves may not sprout well — or at all. Additionally, store-bought garlic is typically softneck, which may not thrive in colder climates where hardneck varieties are better suited. Buy garlic cloves for planting at your local garden center, through a mail order source or from a local grower.
Planting tips
Hardneck varieties should be planted in fall in a spot with well-drained soil and full sun. Break the heads into individual cloves just before you plant, leaving the papery covering on each one. Set the cloves, pointed end up, roughly 5 inches apart and 2 to 4 inches deep. Cloves will spend their energy in winter growing roots, and foliage will appear in spring.
Garlic growing tips
Garlic has shallow roots and does not tolerate competition. Keeping the area weed-free ensures the garlic has access to the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy. In spring, apply an inch or two of straw mulch helps keep the soil moisture consistent and suppresses weed growth. Give them an inch of water per week during the growing season and snap off the edible curly scapes (the flower stalks on hardneck garlic) when they appear. This helps direct the plant’s energy into growing larger bulbs rather than producing flowers and seeds. As the foliage begins to brown in summer, the heads are ready to harvest.
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