What Type of Garlic Will Grow Best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3, 4, and 5?
- Jere Folgert
- Dec 9, 2022
- 9 min read
Updated: Oct 20
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Question: What Type of Garlic Grows Best in USDA Hardiness Zone 3, 4 and Zone 5?
To determine which garlic types grow best in USDA Hardiness Zones 3, 4, and 5, we need to consider both hardneck and softneck varieties, as well as the unique characteristics of elephant garlic. The key to successful cultivation in these zones is the ability of the garlic to withstand harsh, cold winters.
Answer: Hardneck Garlic. (Hardneck varieties of garlic are divided into eight groups: Porcelain, Rocambole, Purple Stripe, Glazed Purple Stripe, Marble Purple Stripe, Asiatic, Turban, and Creole (aka Mexican Purple). Hardneck cultivars (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon) produce cloves that surround the base of a hard flower stalk. They grow well in environments that have cold winters. Vernalization is a critical process for hardneck garlic. This epigenetic change requires a prolonged period of cold, typically six to eight weeks below 40°F (4°C). The cold exposure signals the plant's meristematic tissue to transition from vegetative growth to reproductive development, triggering the genes necessary for the bulb to divide into separate cloves and for the scape to form. Without this crucial chilling period, the garlic will likely produce a single, undivided bulb, rather than a head of multiple cloves.
Additional Considerations: Elephant Garlic. Elephant garlic ( Allium ampeloprasum ) isn't true garlic but is actually a type of leek. It's known for its huge bulbs and milder, onion-like flavor. While it can be grown in zones 3-5, it's not as reliably cold-hardy as hardneck garlic. It often requires a deep, well-draining soil and a thick layer of winter mulch to survive the cold. The bulbs consist of a few large cloves and sometimes small, hard corms called "corms" that can be planted to grow new bulbs. Due to its genetic similarity to leeks, it's a biennial plant that can produce a tall flower stalk in its second year.
Other Considerations: Softneck Garlic. Softneck garlic ( Allium sativum var. sativum ) doesn't produce a central stalk, resulting in a soft, pliable neck that is ideal for braiding. It generally grows better in warmer climates (zones 5-9) but can be grown in colder zones with some protective measures, such as a thick layer of mulch. Softneck varieties are the type most commonly found in grocery stores because they have a longer shelf life. They produce many small cloves in multiple layers. Artichoke: The most common type of softneck, named for its layered cloves that resemble an artichoke. While they're generally better suited for warmer climates, some cultivars can be grown in zone 5. Silverskin: These have a bright white, papery wrapper and are known for their long storage life. They can be grown in zone 5 but require careful overwintering.
Find Out What USDA Zone You Are In. Zipcode Search
USDA Hardiness Zones 3, 4, and 5 comprise some of the coldest and northernmost areas of the continental United States. It reaches in a half-moon shape from northern New York and New England to northern Idaho and from the Canadian border south into parts of the Colorado Rockies. The following states include Zone 3, 4 or Zone 5: Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming and a few parts of California.
Question: "My sister lives in USDA Zone 4 and wants to know if she can grow garlic. I'm in Zone 7 and grow softneck garlic. Do you know if it's possible to grow softneck garlic in zone 4, I would really appreciate you let us know. "
Answer: "Softneck garlic seems to grow better in warmer climates such as yours in USDA Zone 7. It can struggle a bit in colder climates such as USDA Zone 4. Our GROeat Garlic Farm is in Zone 4. Hardneck Garlic grows really well here. We grow Music, Rosewood, Bogatyr, German Porcelain, Montana Zemo, and a few other hardneck cultivars. We plant cloves in October and harvest in late July the following year. As long as your sister selects the hardy Hardneck garlic, the garlic will do just fine in Zone 4. She will need to start with good soil conditions and disease-free seed garlic. A little help from the weather is important, including cold winter conditions and adequate moisture in the spring. Keep the garlic patch weed-free! Garlic is one tough plant. Harvest when the bottom three leaves turn yellow or brown and droop to the ground. Handle each garlic bulb with gentleness and care as they bruise easily, resulting in short storage life."
What Garlic Grows Best in USDA Zone 3, 4 or Zone 5?
The Resilient Science of Hardneck Garlic
In the chilly realms of USDA Hardiness Zones 3, 4, and 5, a resilient and flavorful hero emerges: hardneck garlic (Alliumsativum var. ophioscorodon). Unlike its softneck cousins, hardneck garlic thrives on the cold, relying on a crucial biological process called vernalization. This epigenetic phenomenon is a "genetic reset" triggered by prolonged exposure to cold temperatures. The plant's meristematic tissue senses the winter chill, a signal that directs it to produce a bulb of distinct cloves and a rigid central flower stalk, or scape, in the spring. Without this critical cold period, the plant would simply form a single, undivided bulb, a testament to the powerful influence of temperature on a plant's genetic expression.
Cultivating Cold-Hardy Cloves
For gardeners in these colder zones, the journey begins in the fall. The ideal window for planting is a delicate balance: early enough for the cloves to establish a robust root system before the ground freezes, but late enough to prevent the emergence of green shoots above the soil. A good rule of thumb is to plant a few weeks before the first hard frost. Each clove, a miniature botanical battery, should be planted 2-3 inches deep and spaced about 6 inches apart. A thick layer of straw mulch can act as a crucial insulator, protecting the young roots from extreme temperature fluctuations.
As spring arrives, the hardneck garlic awakens. Its growth is a race against time, as the plant funnels energy into bulb formation. During this period, consistent moisture and a balanced diet of nutrients are vital. Too much water, however, can lead to fungal diseases like Penicillium rot or white rot (Sclerotiumcepivorum), which can quickly devastate a crop. The soil's microbiological health is paramount, and regular weeding ensures that the garlic plants have no competition for light, water, and nutrients. This is not about being unfriendly to weeds, but rather about optimizing the garlic's photosynthetic and nutrient absorption capacity.
The Grand Harvest and Chemical Potency
The culmination of this growth cycle is the harvest, which typically occurs in June or July. The perfect moment is signaled by the plant itself: the lower leaves begin to wither and turn brown as the plant directs its last reserves of energy into the developing bulb. Harvesting before the weather becomes too hot is crucial to prevent the outer bulb wrappers from deteriorating, which can affect the garlic's storage life.
Hardneck varieties like Rocambole, Purple Stripe, and Creole are celebrated for their nuanced, complex flavors. This richness is due to a higher concentration of sulfur compounds, such as allicin, which is formed when the cell walls of garlic are crushed or damaged. This compound is responsible for garlic's pungent aroma and its potent biological activities. Garlic is a powerful example of how a plant's environmental adaptations and complex biochemistry combine to produce a delicious and scientifically fascinating vegetable.
Tips for Growing Garlic in Zones 3, 4 and 5.
Plant the cloves in the fall. The cloves should be planted 2-3 inches deep and 6 inches apart.
Water the garlic regularly, especially during the first few weeks after planting.
Fertilize the garlic regularly with a balanced fertilizer.
Weed the garlic regularly.
Harvest the garlic bulbs when the leaves start to die back.
Store the garlic bulbs in a cool, dry place for several months.
Hardneck Garlic Overview: The good news is that garlic is resilient and adaptable. Hardneck Garlic, also referred to as “Ophio” Garlic, apparently evolved directly from wild Garlic, and appreciates winter cold. The cold conditions in the northern tier of the United States stimulate and invigorate the plant and bring out exceptional quality in the plants and bulbs. These cold conditions also help the plant produce hotter, spicier garlic. It is a smart strategy to plant hardneck garlic in the soil five or six weeks before the first frost so that the cloves (seed garlic) can acclimate and establish roots before winter freezing. However, if the soil freezes very quickly and permeates the soil deeply, this can result in damage to the planted cloves. And if significant above-ground growth occurs before winter, cold temperatures can damage the plant.
PRO Tip. Vernalization! If your winters are cold, choose a hardneck garlic, which flourishes in zone 3, 4 and 5, and even 6. You will have more success and larger bulbs and you'll also benefit from the long storage life and better flavor of hardneck garlic. Vernalization = Exposure to Cold for 8 + Weeks.
Suitable cultivars for zone 4 or zone 5 gardens include ‘Music', 'German Extra Hardy', ‘German Porcelain’, 'German Red', ‘Spanish Roja', 'Bogatyr', 'Romanian Red', and 'Montana Zemo'. There are hundreds of "named" hardneck garlic varieties, including ‘Metechi‘, ‘Purple Glazer‘, ‘Siberian‘, ‘Chesnok Red‘, and ‘Spanish Roja’. Plant the cloves (separated from the bulb), pointy side upwards, deep enough to just cover with soil. Hardneck garlic develops a "pigtail" stem called a scape, which eventually develops tiny bulbils at its top end. Hardneck garlic develops a bulb (or head) underground with cloves wrapped together in a papery sheath to form the “head” or bulb of garlic. Hardneck garlic tends to do well in colder climates.
When to Plant Garlic: A common mistake some garlic growers make is to plant garlic too soon in the fall. Instead, Garlic is frost-hardy, but ideally should be planted 4 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes to give the cloves time to establish roots. Plant individual cloves from mid-September to mid-November. In mild climates, garlic can be planted even in January or February (assuming the soil is not frozen). Assuming hardneck garlic has been exposed to cold conditions for 8+ weeks (vernalization), garlic can also be planted in early spring as soon as the ground is workable. Planting garlic at the proper time will result in bigger bulbs. Here is chart providing very general guidelines on when to plant hardneck garlic.
Fall and Winter Planting Schedule. Note: Garlic can also be planted in very early spring.
Frost Dates Zone 3 and 4: Hardneck garlic can be grown in Zone 4. This zone is considered a medium-growing season but is shorter than higher-numbered zones. The last frost date is typically between April 24 and May 12. It can be as late as June, depending on the elevation. The first frost date is typically between September 20 and October 7. It's important that Zone 4 growers keep up with temperature changes, especially early and late frost warnings. Every year is a little different.
Frost Dates Zone 5: Hardneck garlic can be grown in Zone 5. This zone is considered a medium-growing season but is shorter than higher-numbered zones. The last frost date is typically between April 7 and April 30. It can be as late as mid-May. The first frost date is October 15. It's important that Zone 5 growers keep up with temperature changes, especially frost warnings. A frost date app is an excellent gardening tool for short growing seasons, so you receive information for your zip code about frost warnings.
PRO TIP: Hardneck Garlic is very cold-tolerant. Ideally, plant seed garlic (aka garlic cloves) before the ground freezes. The cloves will establish a delicate root structure which will anchor the clove in the soil.
What about Softneck Garlic? Will it Grow in Zone 3, 4 or 5? Softneck garlic cultivars (Allium sativum var. sativum) look more like the garlic bulbs we see in grocery stores. Softnecks are less cold-hardy than hardnecks. Most softneck varieties grow best in Hardiness Zones 6, 7, 8+, with very few varieties able to form bulbs in Hardiness Zones 9 and higher. While many perform better in warmer climates, there are some softneck cultivars that are suitable for Zone 3, 4 or Zone 5, with colder temperatures. They usually do not grow a flower stalk (garlic scape). Check with other local garlic growers to see if they are growing softneck garlic. If you live in a mild climate that doesn't get hard freezes in winter, go for softneck garlic. This type of garlic does well in USDA zone 5 and above, making it fairly versatile. If your winters are very cold, choose a hardneck garlic, which flourishes in zone 4 and below.
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Quick facts: Garlic grows best in well-drained, moisture-retentive soil with pH between 6.0 and 7.0. The soil should be comprised of rich, well-decomposed, fluffy organic material. Plant cloves in the fall, usually one or two weeks after the first killing frost. Unless you control weeds early, they can easily overtake young garlic plants. Insects are not a major problem with garlic, although onion maggot is a potential pest. Depending on the variety and climate zone, harvest garlic between late June and late July.
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13 Inches of Snow on October 23, 2022. -45 F Temperatures followed thereafter.
GroEat Farm is a small, sustainable family farm located in the beautiful Hyalite Foothills, in the shadows of the Gallatin Mountain Range. The hardneck varieties that they grow on their farm flourish due to the combination of the very cold winters, heavy snowpack, moist spring, temperate summers, and the nutrient-rich and dynamic alluvial soils, washed down from the Gallatin Mountain Range. www.groeat.com
