Last Updated on: October 9, 2026

Planting Garlic in November UK – Complete Step-by-Step Growing Guide

November is one of the best months to plant garlic in the UK. Although the days are getting shorter and temperatures are dropping, this is actually an excellent time to prepare for next year’s garlic harvest.

If you’re wondering whether November is too late to plant garlic, the answer is no. Many varieties are ideally planted during autumn because exposure to winter cold helps them develop properly formed bulbs.

However, there is one important thing to consider before planting: the condition of your soil.

November can be particularly wet in the UK, and garlic doesn’t like sitting in waterlogged ground. If your garden or allotment has heavy clay soil, starting your cloves in modules under cover can be a much better option.

Here at Gardening with Ben, I love planting crops during autumn that will give us something to look forward to the following summer. Garlic is one of those fantastic vegetables that’s relatively simple to grow once you understand the basics.

In this complete guide, I’ll show you how to plant garlic in November, which varieties to choose, the correct planting depth and spacing, and how to look after your garlic throughout winter.

Whether you’re growing garlic in a traditional vegetable bed, raised bed, container or polytunnel, you’ll find all the advice you need to get started.

Can You Plant Garlic in November in the UK?

Yes! November is an excellent month for planting many garlic varieties in the UK.

Garlic is normally planted during autumn or early winter because the cloves benefit from a prolonged period of cooler temperatures.

This cold exposure encourages the bulb to divide into individual cloves instead of simply producing one large bulb.

Most autumn-planted garlic is harvested from late spring through summer the following year.

Why Does Garlic Need Cold Weather?

Many garlic varieties need approximately one to two months of temperatures between 0°C and 10°C to encourage good bulb formation.

This process is sometimes called vernalisation.

It helps explain why planting garlic in autumn is often more reliable for producing well-developed bulbs.

Not every garlic variety has identical requirements, and some are suitable for spring planting.

However, autumn planting is the traditional approach for many popular UK varieties.

Quick November Garlic Planting Guide

Growing requirement	Recommended advice
Best planting period	October–December for many varieties
November planting	Excellent in suitable conditions
Soil	Fertile and well drained
Position	Full sun
Planting depth	Pointed tip approximately 2.5cm below soil level
Distance between cloves	15cm
Distance between rows	30cm
Planting direction	Flat base down, pointed end up
Heavy, wet soil	Start in modules under cover
Container depth	At least 25cm
Harvest	Late spring–summer
Difficulty	Easy

What Are the Benefits of Planting Garlic in November?

There are several reasons why November is such a useful month for planting garlic.

1. Cold Weather Helps Bulb Development

Garlic benefits from winter temperatures because the cold encourages proper bulb formation.

This is especially important for many traditional autumn-planted varieties.

2. Garlic Gets a Head Start

Cloves planted during autumn can begin developing roots before the main growing season.

When temperatures rise during spring, established plants are ready to produce stronger growth.

3. Make Use of Your Allotment Beds

Once summer crops have been harvested, you may have growing space available.

Garlic can occupy a suitable bed throughout autumn and winter, making productive use of the ground.

4. Relatively Little Winter Maintenance

Garlic normally needs very little attention during the coldest months.

The most important things are keeping weeds under control, maintaining good drainage and checking that newly planted cloves haven’t been disturbed.

Best Garlic Varieties to Plant in November

Choosing the correct variety is important because different garlic varieties have different growing and storage qualities.

Garlic is usually divided into two main groups: hardneck and softneck.

Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck garlic generally produces fewer but larger cloves and develops a firm central flower stalk.

It often has a strong flavour and is popular among gardeners growing garlic for cooking.

Hardneck types normally produce scapes, which are the developing flower stalks.

These can be removed and used in cooking.

Popular varieties include:

Red Duke

A hardneck garlic variety with attractive purple colouring and a strong flavour.

Carcassonne Wight

A hardneck variety suitable for autumn planting, producing large cloves with a distinctive flavour.

Softneck Garlic

Softneck garlic generally produces bulbs with more cloves and usually stores longer than hardneck varieties.

It is a popular choice if you want to keep your garlic harvest for use over several months.

Examples include:

Solent Wight

A softneck variety well suited to the British climate and valued for its storage qualities.

Germidour

A popular softneck variety that produces attractive, often purple-streaked bulbs.

Cristo

A reliable softneck garlic variety that produces white bulbs with a strong flavour.

Arno

Another softneck variety that is valued for its keeping qualities.

Which Garlic Should You Choose?

If you’re growing garlic for the first time, I’d suggest choosing a named variety from a reputable UK seed supplier.

Look for healthy bulbs that are specifically recommended for autumn planting.

If you have room, try growing both a hardneck and softneck variety to compare their flavour, growth and storage performance.

Can You Plant Supermarket Garlic?

Although supermarket garlic may sometimes sprout and grow, it isn’t generally recommended for planting.

There are two main reasons.

Firstly, supermarket garlic may not be suited to British growing conditions.

Secondly, it can create a risk of introducing pests or diseases to your garden or allotment.

For the best chance of a healthy crop, choose certified or reputable seed garlic from a specialist supplier.

How to Prepare Your Soil for November Garlic Planting

Before planting garlic, it’s worth checking the soil carefully.

November can bring considerable rainfall, so drainage is especially important.

Choose a Sunny Position

Garlic prefers an open, sunny location.

Avoid heavily shaded growing areas where possible.

Good light is particularly important when strong growth resumes during spring.

Remove Weeds

Clear persistent weeds before planting.

Garlic has relatively narrow leaves and can struggle when competing with vigorous weeds.

Improve Soil Structure

If necessary, incorporate suitable well-rotted compost to improve soil structure and fertility.

Avoid planting directly into freshly manured ground.

Check Drainage

This is one of the most important November planting jobs.

Garlic can rot if the cloves remain in saturated soil for long periods.

If water regularly collects in your vegetable bed, don’t simply plant into the wet ground and hope for the best.

Instead, use raised beds, containers or modules under cover.

How to Plant Garlic Outdoors in November – Step-by-Step

If your soil is well drained and remains workable, planting garlic directly outdoors is straightforward.

Step 1: Choose Healthy Seed Garlic

Select firm, healthy bulbs from a reputable supplier.

Avoid planting bulbs that are soft, badly damaged or showing obvious signs of rot.

Step 2: Separate the Bulb into Cloves

Carefully break apart the garlic bulb.

Each individual clove can develop into a new garlic plant.

Leave the protective papery skin on each clove.

Step 3: Prepare the Planting Rows

Rake the soil to remove large clods and create a suitable planting surface.

Leave approximately 30cm between rows.

Step 4: Space Your Garlic Cloves

Position the cloves approximately 15cm apart.

This gives each plant enough space to develop a healthy bulb.

Avoid overcrowding, as closely spaced plants may produce smaller bulbs.

Step 5: Plant the Correct Way Up

Each garlic clove has a flatter base and a pointed tip.

Plant with the flat base facing downwards and the pointed tip facing upwards.

The roots will develop from the base, while the shoot grows upwards.

Step 6: Plant at the Correct Depth

Place each clove so that the pointed tip is approximately 2.5cm below the soil surface.

In lighter soil, slightly deeper planting may be suitable.

Avoid planting deeply in heavy clay soil.

Step 7: Cover and Firm the Soil

Replace the soil over the cloves.

Firm it gently without excessive compaction.

Step 8: Water Only if Needed

If your soil is dry, water gently after planting.

However, if November rainfall has already left the ground moist, additional watering isn’t necessary.

Step 9: Protect the Bed from Birds

Birds occasionally pull freshly planted cloves from the soil.

If this happens, use temporary horticultural fleece or securely fitted wildlife-safe netting until the cloves are well rooted.

Planting Garlic in Modules in November

If you have heavy or waterlogged soil, this is one of the best alternatives to outdoor planting.

The RHS specifically recommends starting autumn garlic in modules where winter soil conditions are unsuitable.

This allows the cloves to experience cool conditions while protecting them from excessive rainfall.

What You’ll Need

• Healthy seed garlic
• Deep modular trays or individual small pots
• Peat-free multipurpose or soil-based compost
• A cold frame, unheated greenhouse or sheltered outdoor growing area
• Plant labels

Step 1: Prepare Your Modules

Partly fill each module with suitable compost.

Choose cells that give developing roots enough space.

Step 2: Separate the Garlic Cloves

Carefully divide each bulb into individual cloves.

Leave the protective skins in place.

Step 3: Plant One Clove per Module

Position each clove with its flat base down and pointed tip upwards.

Cover the tip with approximately 2.5cm of compost.

Step 4: Water Gently

Water sufficiently to settle the compost if it is dry.

Allow excess moisture to drain.

Avoid keeping the modules saturated.

Step 5: Place Under Suitable Protection

Keep the trays somewhere cool and sheltered from excessive rainfall.

A well-ventilated cold frame or unheated greenhouse is suitable.

You don’t need to keep autumn garlic in a warm room.

The cloves benefit from cool growing conditions.

Step 6: Monitor During Winter

Check the compost regularly.

Keep it slightly moist rather than completely dry or waterlogged.

Look for healthy root and shoot development.

Step 7: Plant Outside in Spring

When the soil becomes workable and conditions improve, transplant the module-grown garlic into its final growing position.

Allow approximately 15cm between plants and 30cm between rows.

Handle the root systems carefully to minimise disturbance.

Growing Garlic in Raised Beds

Raised beds can be particularly useful for garlic during autumn and winter.

They may offer better drainage than surrounding ground, especially where the soil has been improved.

How to Grow Garlic in Raised Beds

Choose a sunny location.

Use fertile, free-draining soil.

Plant cloves with the pointed tip approximately 2.5cm below the surface.

Leave around 15cm between plants.

Avoid overcrowding.

Check regularly for excessive moisture.

Are Raised Beds Better for Garlic?

They can be particularly helpful where ordinary allotment soil becomes waterlogged.

However, raised beds still need adequate drainage.

A raised bed filled with saturated or poorly draining material can develop the same problems as an ordinary vegetable bed.

Growing Garlic in Pots and Containers

You don’t need a large garden to grow garlic.

It can also be grown in suitable containers.

Choosing a Pot

Choose a container at least 25cm deep with drainage holes.

The width of the container determines how many cloves you can grow.

Choosing Compost

Use a suitable peat-free multipurpose compost.

Make sure the container drains freely.

How to Plant Garlic in a Pot

Plant the cloves approximately 15cm apart.

Position the pointed tip around 2.5cm below the compost surface.

Water gently when necessary.

Place the container in a sunny, sheltered position.

During winter, avoid allowing the pot to remain saturated.

Caring for Container Garlic

Containers can dry out more quickly than ordinary garden beds, particularly during spring.

Check moisture regularly and water when needed.

Be careful not to overwater during cold, wet conditions.

Does Garlic Need Frost Protection?

Garlic is a hardy crop and is normally planted outdoors during autumn and winter.

Established garlic generally tolerates ordinary UK winter conditions.

However, persistent waterlogging can cause more serious problems than normal cold weather.

Should You Cover Garlic with Fleece?

Fleece isn’t usually necessary simply because ordinary frost is forecast.

It may be useful temporarily to prevent birds disturbing newly planted cloves.

Can Garlic Grow in an Unheated Greenhouse?

Yes, garlic can be grown in modules or containers in an unheated greenhouse.

However, good ventilation and appropriate compost moisture are important.

An unheated greenhouse can still freeze, but garlic normally tolerates cold conditions better than tender vegetables.

Looking After Garlic During Winter

Once planted, garlic generally needs relatively little attention.

Watering

Ordinary UK winter rainfall is often sufficient for outdoor garlic.

Avoid watering already wet soil.

Weeding

Keep the growing area free from weeds.

Weeds compete for nutrients, light and moisture.

Drainage

Monitor your beds after prolonged rainfall.

Garlic growing in saturated soil may struggle or rot.

Frost Heave

Freezing and thawing can sometimes lift cloves or young plants.

If necessary, gently firm them back into the soil when conditions are suitable.

Should You Feed Garlic Immediately After Planting?

Garlic requires nutrients to produce healthy growth and bulbs, but that doesn’t mean you need to apply large amounts of fertiliser in November.

If your soil is fertile and well prepared, immediate heavy feeding may not be necessary.

During autumn and winter, growth is much slower than in spring.

Additional nutrients are often more useful as the crop resumes active growth.

Can You Use Chicken Manure Pellets?

Composted chicken manure pellets can supply nutrients, but they should be used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Avoid applying excessive amounts.

Is Specialist Onion and Garlic Feed Better?

A suitable specialist fertiliser can be useful where additional nutrients are needed.

However, good drainage, correct spacing and healthy soil remain the foundations of a successful crop.

What Happens to Garlic in Spring?

As temperatures rise and daylight increases, garlic plants grow more vigorously.

You’ll notice taller green leaves developing.

This foliage is important because the leaves help produce the energy needed for bulb development.

Spring Garlic Care

Keep the bed weed-free.

Water during prolonged dry spells.

Feed appropriately if the soil requires it.

Check for pests and diseases.

Avoid damaging the shallow roots while hoeing.

Common Garlic Pests and Diseases

Garlic Rust

Rust is a fungal disease that produces orange or brown pustules on the foliage.

Severe infections can weaken plants and reduce bulb development.

Remove badly affected foliage where appropriate and maintain good growing conditions.

Onion White Rot

Onion white rot is a serious soil-borne disease affecting garlic, onions and related crops.

It can survive in contaminated ground for many years.

Symptoms include yellowing foliage, poor growth and decaying roots or bulbs.

If white rot is suspected, avoid transferring contaminated soil or planting material to unaffected beds.

Allium Leaf Miner

Allium leaf miner is a pest that can damage garlic, onions and leeks.

It can cause distorted growth and create opportunities for secondary rotting.

Suitable fine-mesh insect protection can help prevent egg laying where the pest is a known problem.

Garlic Not Developing Properly

Poor bulb development can result from unsuitable varieties, insufficient cold exposure, poor growing conditions or other plant stresses.

Choose varieties suitable for the UK and plant at the recommended time.

When Will November-Planted Garlic Be Ready to Harvest?

Garlic planted during autumn is generally ready from late spring through summer the following year.

The exact time depends on the variety and growing conditions.

One of the main signs of maturity is when the lower leaves begin to yellow.

Don’t wait until all the leaves have completely died, as some varieties may begin splitting apart if harvested too late.

How to Harvest Garlic

Choose a reasonably dry day.

Carefully loosen the soil with a garden fork.

Lift the bulbs without damaging them.

Gently remove loose soil.

Place the bulbs somewhere suitable for curing.

How to Dry and Store Garlic

After harvesting, garlic should be properly cured before long-term storage.

Choose a dry, sheltered and well-ventilated location.

Allow air to circulate around the bulbs.

Don’t leave freshly harvested garlic in a damp pile.

Once the outer skins and necks are dry, suitable bulbs can be stored somewhere cool, dry and well ventilated.

Softneck varieties generally store longer than hardneck varieties.

Storage time varies with the variety and curing conditions.

November Garlic Planting in Yorkshire

If you’re gardening in Sheffield, Yorkshire or another northern part of England, November conditions can be particularly wet.

This makes drainage one of the most important things to consider.

My November Garlic Checklist

Check whether the ground is suitable for planting.

Avoid waterlogged soil.

Choose healthy seed garlic.

Use suitable autumn varieties.

Plant at the correct depth and spacing.

Consider modules if the ground is too wet.

Check young plants after severe weather.

Keep weeds under control.

Plan for healthy growth when spring arrives.

There’s no benefit in forcing garlic into saturated ground when a more suitable planting method is available.

Common Mistakes When Planting Garlic in November

Planting in Waterlogged Soil

Cold, saturated ground increases the risk of cloves rotting.

Using Supermarket Garlic

Supermarket bulbs may not be suited to UK growing conditions and can introduce pests or diseases.

Planting Cloves Upside Down

Always position the flat root base downwards and pointed end upwards.

Planting Too Deeply in Heavy Soil

Deep planting in poorly drained clay soil can cause problems.

Overcrowding the Cloves

Allow sufficient spacing for healthy bulb development.

Overwatering Modules

Garlic needs moisture, but constantly wet compost can encourage rotting.

Applying Too Much Fertiliser

Excessive feeding isn’t a substitute for good soil preparation.

Harvesting Too Late

Overmature bulbs may begin separating and become less suitable for storage.

Frequently Asked Questions About Planting Garlic in November

Is November Too Late to Plant Garlic?

No. November is an excellent month for planting many garlic varieties in the UK.

Is October or November Better for Garlic?

Both months can be suitable. The best time depends on the variety and local growing conditions.

Can You Plant Garlic in December?

Yes. Many autumn garlic varieties can still be planted during December in suitable conditions.

How Deep Should You Plant Garlic?

Plant with the pointed tip approximately 2.5cm below the soil surface.

How Far Apart Should Garlic Cloves Be Planted?

Allow approximately 15cm between cloves and around 30cm between rows.

Should Garlic Be Watered After Planting?

Water if the soil is dry. If November rainfall has already provided sufficient moisture, additional watering is usually unnecessary.

Can You Plant Garlic in Heavy Clay Soil?

Yes, if drainage is suitable, but modules, raised beds or containers can be more reliable where winter soil becomes waterlogged.

Can You Grow Garlic in a Polytunnel?

Yes. Garlic can be grown under cover where there is adequate light, ventilation and drainage.

Does Garlic Need Cold Weather?

Many varieties need a prolonged period of cool temperatures to encourage the development of separate cloves.

Can Garlic Survive Frost?

Garlic generally tolerates ordinary UK winter frost once established.

When Will November Garlic Be Ready?

Many autumn-planted varieties are ready to harvest from late spring through summer.

Can You Grow Elephant Garlic in November?

Elephant garlic is generally best planted earlier in autumn, often during October, because it benefits from a long growing season. November planting may still be possible in suitable conditions, but check the supplier’s advice.

Final Thoughts from Gardening with Ben

Planting garlic in November is one of those satisfying autumn allotment jobs that helps you prepare for another successful growing season.

Although the days are becoming colder and wetter, there’s still plenty of opportunity to get garlic established for next summer.

The key is choosing healthy seed garlic, planting at the correct depth and spacing, and making sure the growing conditions are suitable.

If your allotment soil becomes waterlogged during winter, remember that starting garlic in modules under cover is an excellent alternative.

You don’t have to risk losing your crop simply because the ground isn’t ready for planting.

With a little care and patience, your November garlic can develop through winter and reward you with a lovely harvest the following year.

That’s one of the things I enjoy most about allotment gardening. There’s always another crop to look forward to.

Keep smiling, keep shining, keep gardening with Ben!