It’s Time to Order Garlic! Everything You Need to Know to Grow Your Own in Denver
Let’s talk about one of my all-time favorite crops to grow in a Denver backyard kitchen garden: garlic. And I mean seriously, if I had to give up growing everything except one thing, I’d probably keep my garlic. (Okay, maybe tomatoes would fight for the top spot, but garlic’s right there!)
Sure, garlic doesn’t cost much at the store. But the FLAVOR you get from homegrown garlic? Not even in the same league. If you’re the kind of person who triples the garlic in every recipe (guilty 🙋♀️), then you need garlic growing in your garden.
Let’s dig in.
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September is the perfect time to order your garlic
It’s officially garlic ordering season, so if you haven’t ordered yours yet, now’s the time! I always recommend Keene Garlic for high-quality seed garlic. Their selection is amazing, their bulbs are healthy and reliable, and they ship right when you need them.
👉 Pro tip: Garlic sells out fast, so get your order in early!
My Favorite Garlic Supplier: Keene Garlic
When to Plant Garlic in Denver
In Colorado, garlic is typically planted after the first frost, usually sometime between October 15 and November 15. The goal is to get those cloves in the ground before it freezes solid, but after the temperatures have dropped consistently.
This timing gives the cloves a chance to settle in and start rooting before winter, without sprouting above ground too early.
Hardneck vs. Softneck Garlic: What’s the Difference?
There are two types of garlic you’ll see for sale: softneck and hardneck. You can grow both in Denver, but here’s what you need to know:
Hardneck Garlic:
Best for Colorado’s cold winters ❄️
Produces larger cloves in a single ring around a stiff central stem
Has bold, garlicky flavor
Doesn’t store quite as long as softneck
Produces garlic scapes in the spring (aka a gardener’s bonus crop, delicious!)
Softneck Garlic:
What you usually see in grocery stores
Has lots of smaller cloves in multiple layers
Stores longer than hardneck varieties
Less cold-hardy, so it’s trickier to grow in Denver unless you baby it a bit
👉 I’m a hardneck girl through and through, mostly for those garlicky scapes in the spring 😋
How to Plant Garlic in Colorado (Step-by-Step)
Garlic is a heavy feeder and it stays in the ground for a long time (up to 9 months!), so you want to start it off right.
1. Prep Your Soil
Make sure your soil is loose, well-draining, and rich in organic matter
Mix in compost before planting to feed the garlic all winter long
2. Break Apart the Bulbs
Gently separate each head of garlic into individual cloves
Leave the papery covering intact on each clove
3. Plant Each Clove
Plant cloves pointy side up, about 1–2 inches deep
Space cloves 4–6 inches apart
Cover with soil and pat gently
4. Mulch, Mulch, Mulch
Add 4–12 inches of mulch on top (I love using fall leaves, they break down beautifully over winter)
Mulch helps regulate soil temperature, retain moisture, and prevent frost heaving
Pro tip:
This is common when there aren't enough male flowers open at the same time as your females. I’ve got a reel on pollination tricks if you’re curious, check it out!
Garlic Care Over Winter
If Denver gets a dry spell and it hasn’t rained or snowed in 30+ days, give your garlic a drink, just like you would with your trees, shrubs, and perennials.
That’s right, winter watering still applies here!
Spring Garlic Care in Denver
Once things start warming up and you see those green shoots poking through, it’s time to:
Pull back the mulch to let sunlight reach the leaves
Top dress with compost to give your garlic a boost
Water regularly, especially as it starts bulbing
⏳ About 2–3 weeks before harvest (around early July), stop watering to help the bulbs cure in the ground and store better.
Don’t Forget the Garlic Scapes!
If you planted hardneck garlic, you’ll see beautiful curly scapes start to grow in late spring. These are the flower stalks, and you’ll want to harvest them once they’ve made a full loop.
Why? Because leaving them on tells the plant to make garlic seed (which takes 2 years to become a bulb 😅). Cutting the scapes redirects energy into making a bigger garlic bulb.
Bonus: Scapes are edible and delicious. I love tossing them into stir fries or turning them into pesto.
When and How to Harvest Garlic
In Denver, garlic is typically ready to harvest around mid-July. Here’s how to know when it’s time:
Look for tight heads with plump cloves
You can gently dig down beside one and check
If the cloves have started separating, you’re past peak, but they’re still edible (just use them first, they won’t store as long)
Use a garden fork or your hands to carefully lift the bulbs. Be gentle, you don’t want to bruise them.
How to Cure and Store Garlic
Curing helps garlic store longer and develop that rich, sweet flavor.
Lay bulbs out in a well-ventilated area (shade is best) for about 2 weeks
Once dry, wipe off dirt with your hands or a dry towel (no rinsing!)
Trim off the tops and roots
Store in a cool, dry place, no fridge needed!
And just like that… VOILA! Homegrown garlic magic.
Why Garlic Is Worth the Wait
I know it takes patience (planting in the fall and harvesting the next summer) but garlic is SO worth the wait. It’s low maintenance, high reward, and one of the most satisfying crops you can grow in a Denver backyard.
Plus, once you taste your own garlic? You’ll never go back to store-bought.
Want to give it a try this year?
🌱 Order your garlic now (Keene Garlic is my go-to!)
📆 Mark your calendar for mid-October to plant
🍁 Save those fall leaves for mulch!
Got questions? Drop them in the comments or reach out! I’m always happy to help you get your hands dirty (in the best way).
Happy planting!
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This is just the tip of the trowel! I put together a full, beautifully designed checklist of all my favorite gardening tools—perfect for beginners or anyone wanting to simplify their setup.
It includes soil tools, weeding gadgets, harvest helpers, and even my favorite freezer containers.
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Meet the Gardener
I’m Elisa Mack - a mom and Denverite who went from being a green-ish thumb to a kitchen garden fanatic simply by dedicating myself to the study of all things Colorado gardening.
Landscapers don’t design. And nurseries don’t make house calls.
We take a more full-service approach, from designing your dream garden to keeping it beautiful year-round.
And as your coach, I’ll help eliminate the guesswork through every season, no matter your level of knowledge.
