How to Grow Garlic from Seeds: A Complete Guide for Gardeners

Garlic is one of the most popular and versatile ingredients worldwide, but growing your own garlic from seed can be a journey few gardeners might attempt due to common misconceptions. Contrary to the belief that garlic is only grown from cloves, it is indeed possible to grow garlic from seeds—specifically from bulbils, a type of seed found atop the garlic scape.

In this comprehensive guide, explore everything from understanding garlic seeds (bulbils), how to harvest and prepare them, to planting, caring, and eventually harvesting your own garlic crop grown from seed.

Understanding Garlic Seeds (Bulbils)

Garlic is typically propagated by planting individual cloves from mature bulbs, but it also produces “seeds” known as bulbils or top-setting seeds. These small, pea-like bulbils form in clusters at the tips of flower stalks called garlic scapes.

What are Bulbils?

• Bulbils are miniature bulbs that grow on the garlic scape, not true botanical seeds.

• They behave like seeds in that they can be planted to grow new garlic plants.

• They are smaller and take longer to mature than cloves and require patience.

Because growing garlic from bulbils is slower and less direct than plantings cloves, it’s less common but rewarding. Starting garlic from bulbils can take 2-3 years before you get fully mature bulbs, but it can also serve as a sustainable, almost free way to propagate garlic over multiple seasons.practicalselfreliance

Harvesting Garlic Seeds (Bulbils)

1. Leave Scapes on the Plant:
   In the spring, when garlic plants send up flower stalks (scapes), allow these to grow and mature rather than cutting them off early.

2. Wait for Bulbil Maturity:
   Over the summer, the scapes develop bulbils at their tips. They mature and dry out by late summer or early fall, after which they are ready to harvest.practicalselfreliance

3. Harvest and Dry:
   Cut the scapes when most bulbils have dried and hardened but before they fall off naturally. Gently break bulbils from the scape and spread them out in a dry, well-ventilated spot for several days to cure and dry thoroughly.

4. Store Carefully:
   Keep the dried bulbils in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight until planting in fall. Proper storage helps maintain viability.practicalselfreliance

Preparing to Plant Garlic Seeds

Garlic grown from bulbils requires patience and special preparation:

• Planting Time: Plant bulbils in the fall, similar to planting garlic cloves, or early spring in mild climates.

• Soil Preparation: Choose a sunny, well-drained site with fertile soil. Incorporate organic matter like compost or aged manure to enrich soil and improve moisture retention.

• Spacing and Depth: Plant bulbils 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) apart in rows spaced 12-18 inches (30-45 cm). Plant about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep.practicalselfreliance

• Separate from Cloves: Keep bulbils apart from cloves in the garden, as bulbils take longer to mature and can confuse harvest times.

Planting Garlic Seeds (Bulbils)

Step 1: Site Selection and Soil Preparation

Select a site with full sun and loose, fertile soil. Garlic thrives in soil with a pH between 6 and 7.seedtofork+1

• Loosen soil to a depth of 8-12 inches (20-30 cm).

• Mix in 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) of organic matter to improve fertility and drainage.

Step 2: Planting Bulbils

• Place bulbils about 1 inch (2.5 cm) deep with pointed ends facing down (roots grow from the bottom).

• Space them 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) apart in rows about 12-18 inches (30-45 cm) apart.practicalselfreliance

Step 3: Water and Mulch

• Water the bulbils thoroughly after planting.

• Apply a light mulch, such as straw or shredded leaves, to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and insulate the soil.filareefarm+1

Growing Garlic from Seeds: What to Expect

Year One: Establishment Phase

In the first year, bulbils will mainly develop into single cloves or small bulbs underground rather than mature garlic bulbs. The plant is still young, focusing on root and foliage growth.

• Expect green foliage growth over winter or early spring.

• Keep the bed weed-free, mulched, and watered to encourage healthy development.

• Fertilize lightly with balanced or nitrogen-rich fertilizer in spring when growth resumes.practicalselfreliance

Year Two: Enlargement Stage

In the second year, the garlic plants from bulbils produce multiple cloves forming small bulbs. Although not fully matured, these bulbs are larger than the first year’s.

• You can harvest these smaller bulbs as “seed garlic” or replant for eventual harvest.

• The plants will be more vigorous after this year, setting the stage for full-size bulbs in the next.practicalselfreliance

Year Three: Mature Garlic Bulbs

By the third year, garlic planted from bulbils typically produces full-sized bulbs, ready for harvest and culinary use.

• Harvest time and care are similar to garlic grown from cloves.

• This long-term investment pays off with a perennial supply of garlic from originally low-cost seed.practicalselfreliance

Care and Maintenance Tips for Garlic Seedlings

Watering

Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly during active growth periods in spring and early summer. Avoid waterlogging, which can cause rot.rootsandrefuge

Fertilization

Garlic is a heavy feeder requiring nitrogen during leaf growth stages. Side dress with compost, manure, or nitrogen-rich fertilizers, especially in spring.filareefarm+1

Weed Control

Weeds compete heavily with garlic for nutrients. Keep the bed mulched and weed-free to reduce competition.rootsandrefuge

Pest and Disease Management

Garlic is generally pest-resistant but watch for thrips, white rot, and rust. Use crop rotation and remove infected plants.rootsandrefuge

Mulching

Apply organic mulch in fall after planting to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and moderate soil temperature during winter.filareefarm

Harvesting Garlic Grown from Seeds

• Garlic grown from bulbils requires patience; expect about 3 years for mature bulbs.

• Harvest in mid to late summer when lower leaves yellow and dry.

• Carefully dig bulbs out to prevent damage, brush off soil, and cure bulbs in a warm, airy place for a few weeks before storage.rootsandrefuge+1

Advantages of Growing Garlic from Seeds

• Cost-Effective: Starting from bulbils saves money on buying seed garlic bulbs each season.

• Sustainable: Builds a self-replenishing garlic patch with minimal external input.

• Genetic Diversity: Growing garlic from seeds enhances genetic variation improving disease resilience.

• Gardening Challenge: Offers a rewarding project for dedicated gardeners looking for a longer-term crop planning experience.

Common Challenges and Troubleshooting

• Slow Start: Garlic from bulbils grows slower than from cloves, requiring patience.

• Variable Sizes: Bulbils can produce bulbs of uneven size in the early years.

• Spacing Needs: Dense planting in early years can stunt growth; thin for adequate space.

• Winter Protection: Mulching is necessary in colder climates to protect developing bulbs.

• Misidentification: Ensure bulbils are the right type; some garlic varieties do not produce fertile bulbils.practicalselfreliance

Summary: Growing Garlic from Seeds in 6 Steps

1. Harvest bulbils from mature garlic scapes in late summer.

2. Dry and store bulbils in a cool, dry place until fall planting.

3. Prepare fertile, well-drained soil in a sunny location.

4. Plant bulbils 1 inch deep, spaced 2-4 inches apart, rows 12-18 inches apart.

5. Water well and mulch after planting; maintain moisture and fertility through the seasons.

6. Be patient — it takes 2-3 years for mature garlic bulbs to develop from bulbils.

Growing garlic from seed bulbils is a journey of persistence and reward. While it requires extra time compared to the traditional clove planting method, the process expands gardening horizons, increases garlic availability, and enriches soil health. Whether growing for personal culinary use or the joy of seed saving, garlic seed cultivation offers slow but sweet satisfaction that heralds an abundant garlic harvest from your garden.