How to Grow Hardneck Garlic: A Step-by-Step Guide for Cold Climates

If you’re wondering how to grow hardneck garlic, you’re in the right place. This cold-hardy variety is ideal for northern gardeners and produces bold, flavorful cloves that are easy to peel and full of character.

Hardneck garlic thrives in Zones 3–6 and offers a bonus spring harvest: garlic scapes. These curly flower stalks are edible and delicious, making hardneck varieties a great dual-purpose crop.

This post walks you through everything—from fall planting and winter care to harvesting, curing, and storage. For more growing tips and seasonal planting advice, explore our full Gardening Guide.

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Quick Summary: Growing Hardneck Garlic

Best suited for Zones 3–6 and cold winter climates
Plant in fall, 2–4 weeks before the ground freezes
Produces both garlic bulbs and edible scapes
Requires mulching for winter protection
Harvest bulbs in mid to late summer, depending on your zone
Cure and store properly for 6–12 months of use

Necessary Supplies

Hardneck Garlic Seed Bulbs
Buy from a trusted source. Don’t use grocery store garlic. Grocery store garlic sometimes has a chemical sprayed on it to prevent it from sprouting, and it could be from a region that would not grow well where you’re planting. Store-bought garlic can be hardneck or softneck, and you want to make sure you have the correct variety.

Garden Fork or Broadfork
For loosening soil before planting and harvesting. Look for a quality tool because you don’t want something that’s going to break on ya.

Compost or Aged Manure
Garlic is a heavy feeder; you’ll want something to add nutrients back into the soil while they’re growing.

Mulch (Straw or Leaves)
Protects bulbs from frost and suppresses weeds. Even though hardneck garlic needs to lie dormant for the winter, it still can be damaged by the frost. Covering the soil will keep it safe.

Label Stakes
Keep track of garlic types or rows.

Well-Drained Soil
Loamy soil is best; consider raised beds if drainage is poor.

garlic growing in a raised garden bed next to marigolds

Hardneck Garlic Planting Timeline by Garden Zone

Take a look at these timelines, based on what zone you’re in. These are great guidelines to help you with your hardneck garlic plant. Always remember, it’s more important to watch your plants than the calendar. Different

Zone 3
- Planting Time: Late September-Early October
- Scape Harvest: Late June
- Bulb Harvest: Mid-Late July
Zone 4
- Planting Time: Early-Mid October
- Scape Harvest: Mid-Late June
- Bulb Harvest: Mid-Late July
Zone 5
- Planting Time: Mid-October
- Scape Harvest: Mid-June
- Bulb Harvest: Mid-July
Zone 6
- Planting Time: Late October-Early November
- Scape Harvest: Early-Mid June
- Bulb Harvest: Early-Mid July
Zone 7
- Planting Time: Late October-Early November
- Scape Harvest: Early June
- Bulb Harvest: Late June-Early July

What Is Hardneck Garlic?

Hardneck garlic is garlic that has a firm central stalk that comes out of the bulb. Hardneck garlic has bigger cloves and a bold, spicy flavor. It is best in colder climates, like gardening zones 3-6.

Hardneck garlic needs a long exposure to cold, so it is planted in the fall, so they have a few weeks for its roots to develop before the cold hits.

Hardneck garlic varieties have a garlic scape, which is a curled stem that has a flower bulb on the end. These grow at the beginning of summer and are cut off before they flower. You can eat them or use them in cooking.

Softneck garlic, on the other hand, is known for a sweeter, milder flavor and does not have a garlic scape. They grow better in warmer climates. Softneck garlic typically has more cloves and is best for early summer harvesting.

When and Where to Plant Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck garlic does the best in loose, well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. It does best in full sun, which is 6-8 hours per day, and needs to be planted 4-6 weeks before the ground freezes. Check your zone to see when your first frost date is. Plant your garlic early enough so it has a chance to develop some roots before the ground freezes.

How to Plant Hardneck Garlic

Prepare the bed – Loosen soil 6–8″ deep, mix in compost
Break apart bulbs – Keep papery skins on each clove
Plant cloves pointy end up – 2″ deep, 4–6″ apart in rows 8–12″ apart
Label rows if growing multiple types
Mulch heavily – 3–6″ straw or leaves

Garlic Care Through the Seasons

Fall: Plant, label, and mulch. Water lightly after planting if dry, and let the garlic overwinter.

Winter: Leave the garlic alone, it’s dormant. This is the easiest part! During the winter, let the garlic rest in the cold ground. Garlic may start to sprout on warmer winter days.

Spring: Remove some mulch as temperatures warm. Fertilize with compost tea or fish emulsion.

Early Summer: Water the garlic plants regularly during summer. Harvest the garlic scapes, which are usually ready to harvest 2-3 weeks before the bulb is ready.

How to Harvest Garlic Scapes

Harvest garlic scapes by cutting them off where they connect to the main stem just above the top leaves. They’re ready to harvest when they start to curl. Removing the scape allows the plant to focus on growing the garlic clove instead of the flower. Use garlic scapes in pesto, stir-fry, pickled, or compound butter

garlic in a small garden with scapes attached

When and How to Harvest Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck garlic is ready to harvest when 1/3-1/2 of the leaves are dry and brown. Harvest the garlic when the soil is dry, ideally after 2-3 dry days. When the soil is wet, you risk bruising the garlic and increasing the risk of molding or poor curing. Plus, it is messier when digging them up.

Loosen the soil around the garlic with a shovel and gently pull from the base of the garlic to pull it out. Do not wash the bulbs.

Child standing with a garden tool next to a bed of mature garlic plants

Freshly harvested garlic bulbs with stems and greens in a wicker basket

How to Cure and Store Hardneck Garlic

Curing is a process of drying that preserves garlic so it can be stored long-term. You can do this by hanging or laying it flat in a well-ventilated, shady area for 2-3 weeks. Do not wash the garlic or remove the papery shell from the cloves.

After curing, trim the roots and stalks. You can store it in a mesh bag, basket, or paper bag at about 50-60ºF. Avoid storing in an airtight container, and do not store in the refrigerator. This can cause the garlic to think it is in its dormant period, and it may start to sprout. The refrigerator is also humid and can cause the garlic to mold.

Saving Garlic to Plant Next Year

It is easy to save garlic for next year’s planting. Choose the best, largest bulbs and store them so you’re not tempted to use them! Replant them in the fall to continue your garlic supply.

More Gardening Tips to Explore

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How to Plant Turmeric– Learn how to plant turmeric so you can benefit from all of its great qualities!
How to Grow Loofahs– Not just a fun vine, but also a bath sponge! We love these things.

Frequently Asked Questions about Growing Hardneck Garlic

What is hardneck garlic?

Hardneck garlic is a type of garlic that grows a stiff central stalk and produces garlic scapes. It tends to have larger, easier-to-peel cloves and a stronger flavor than softneck garlic. It also grows best in colder climates.

What’s the difference between hardneck and softneck garlic?

The main differences are in structure, flavor, and storage. Hardneck garlic has a firm central stalk and fewer, larger cloves. It produces scapes and has a bold flavor but a shorter storage life (about 4–6 months). Softneck garlic has more, smaller cloves, no scapes, and a longer shelf life (up to 9 months or more).

When should I plant hardneck garlic?

Plant hardneck garlic in the fall, about 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes. This gives it time to establish roots before winter. In most climates, this means planting in October or early November, but check your gardening zone’s first frost date to be sure.

What are garlic scapes, and should I cut them off?

Garlic scapes are the curly flower stalks that grow from the center of hardneck garlic. Yes, you should cut them off once they begin to curl. This helps the plant focus energy on growing a larger bulb. Scapes are edible and delicious — great for pesto or stir-fry!

How do I cure and store hardneck garlic?

After harvesting, brush off excess dirt and cure garlic in a well-ventilated, shady spot for about 2–3 weeks. Hang in bundles or lay flat. Once cured, trim the roots and stalks and store in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.