To plant garlic, the recommended depth is generally about 3 to 4 inches deep, with the top of the clove being around 2.5 to 3 inches below the soil surface. This depth helps protect the garlic from frost heaving in winter and provides insulation during cold weather. Plant the cloves with the pointed end facing upward. If you mulch, a 6-inch layer of straw or shredded leaves is suggested to cover the soil after planting, which further protects and insulates the garlic. More specifically:
- Plant individual garlic cloves about 3 inches deep and 5 to 6 inches apart.
- Another source says planting depth equals 2-3 times the height of the clove, which often comes out to about 2.5 inches from the top of the clove to soil surface.
- For cold climates, a mulch layer of about 6 inches after planting helps protect cloves during winter.
- An experiment found garlic planted around 4 inches deep produced the best yield compared to shallower (0 inch) or deeper (7 inch) planting.
- In light soil, planting can be a bit deeper, but avoid deep planting in heavy soil to prevent rot.
In summary, planting garlic cloves around 3 to 4 inches deep, with the pointed end up and spaced about 5 to 6 inches apart, followed by mulching with straw or leaves, is a good rule of thumb for most growing conditions.
