When to Plant Garlic in North Carolina?

Time Frame

• Garlic planting in North Carolina works best between mid-October and the end of November, according to the North Carolina Cooperative Extension. Planting garlic about four weeks before the ground freezes provides time for it to become established before going dormant over the cold winter months. In years when temperatures drop early and the weather turns wintry sooner, plant garlic up to two weeks earlier.

Benefits

• Garlic planted in the fall and left dormant over winter begins growing as soon as temperatures climb and the ground thaws in early spring. This provides maximum time for growing, producing larger bulbs than would otherwise develop, according to Mother Earth News.

Tips

• Fertilize twice, in mid and late spring, for optimal growth, suggests Fine Gardening. In North Carolina, harvesting time arrives between mid-May to the end of June. Signs of harvest readiness include five- or six-leafed plants with one or two turning brown.