Is Fall a Good Time to Plant Garlic in Zone 9B?

With the arrival of Fall and the impending cooler months, numerous gardeners are tidying up their garden beds and preparing them for the Winter season. Do you reside in Zone 9B? If so, NOW is the perfect time to get your garlic in the ground. I recently prepped one of my 8x4 raised garden beds for cultivating 4 different types of garlic.

For my seed bulbs this year, I decided to order from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company. I carefully reviewed all the varieties they had available and ultimately selected Elephant, Early Italian, Musik, and Nootka Rose to plant. Upon receiving my bulbs, I divided the cloves and was surprised to find myself with 177 cloves for planting!

Following The Square Foot Gardening method, I marked out each square before planting.

After burying each bulb, I watered them and then covered the whole bed with straw.

Situated in a spot within reach of our dogs, this elevated garden bed needed additional safeguarding against their playful digging and possible use as a bathroom. With the help of my husband, we attached a piece of cattle panel to the current trellis above the bed, using zip ties. This serves as a protective barrier from our dogs and allows for convenient access when necessary.

I am excited about our harvest next June and am grateful for the minimal maintenance and attention needed to grow garlic.

Are you cultivating garlic in your garden? If yes, which variety do you prefer? If not, what is preventing you from doing so?