10/12/2026
When should you plant garlic in the autumn of 2026 to ensure it sprouts well in the spring and yields large bulbs in the summer? 🧄👇
Some gardeners rush to plant garlic as early as the beginning of October, while others wait until November. Both groups can achieve a good harvest; it all depends on the weather, soil temperature, and choosing the right moment.
🌱 Favorable days for planting garlic in autumn 2026
Following traditional gardening practices, many growers look to the waning Moon. In 2026, consider these periods:
🧄 October: October 1–9 and 27–31.
🧄 November: November 1–8 and 25–30.
These are approximate periods of the waning Moon, not scientifically proven "best" planting dates. If the soil is still warm or excessively wet, it is better to wait, even if the calendar suggests planting.
🍂 When is the best time to actually plant winter garlic?
The main rule is to plant the cloves approximately 3–4 weeks before the ground freezes solid.
During this time, the garlic has a chance to develop roots but should not actively produce green foliage.
For most regions of Ukraine, the appropriate time falls in October. In a warm autumn, planting can be delayed until early November.
Use the soil temperature as a guide: aim for about +8…+10°C at planting depth, with a trend toward further cooling. 🧄 How to plant garlic to ensure large bulbs?
First, select the largest, healthiest cloves. It is better to set aside small, damaged, or soft ones for kitchen use.
Choose a sunny garden bed with good drainage—avoid areas where water pools. Ideally, the site should have previously grown cucumbers, zucchini, legumes, or cabbage.
However, planting garlic after onions or garlic itself is not recommended. It is best to wait 3–4 years before returning the crop to the same spot.
Proper planting:
✔️ Depth: approximately 5–7 cm from the top of the clove to the soil surface.
✔️ Spacing between cloves: 10–15 cm.
✔️ Leave 20–25 cm between rows.
✔️ Plant cloves with the base facing down, without forcing them into the soil.
✔️ After planting, you can mulch the bed with a 3–5 cm layer of dry leaves, straw, or compost.
❗ Three mistakes that cause garlic to overwinter poorly
First: planting too early. During a long, warm autumn, garlic may sprout before the frost sets in.
Second: using fresh manure before planting. It can cause root problems and lead to disease.
Third: planting in heavy, constantly wet soil. Garlic dislikes waterlogging, especially in winter.
And one more important tip:
Don't plant garlic on the exact same day every year just because your parents or grandparents did so. Autumn weather varies from year to year. Sometimes it is already cold by mid-October, while at other times the ground remains warm even into November.
So, let the calendar serve as a guide, but base your final decision on the weather.
When do you usually plant winter garlic—in October or November? And do you pay attention to the lunar calendar?
