Let’s start growing garlic in zone 10! Garlic is essential for your kitchen, so if you want to develop it, especially in zone 10, this guide offers everything you need: the best garlic bulbs for zone 10, when to plant, and how to grow it.
Understanding Zone 10
Before planting garlic, you need to understand the climate of your local area. The US government has made USDA Hardiness zones for gardeners to understand climate conditions easily through zones. These zones are based on the annual minimum temperature.
Zone 10 typically has a warm and mild climate with high temperatures, especially in summer. In these areas, winter temperatures can drop to a minimum of -1.1C to -4.4C (30F to 40F).
- Zone 10a: 30F to 35F (-1.1C to 1.7C)
- Zone 10b: 35F to 40F (1.7C to 4.4C)
A Quick Table for Clarification
| Zone 10a Regions | Zone 10b Regions |
| Southern Florida (Miami, Naples, Fort Myers) | Southern Florida (Key West, Everglades) |
| Southern Texas (Brownsville, McAllen) | Southern Texas (South Padre Island) |
| Southern California (Los Angeles suburbs, Inland Empire) | Southern California (San Diego, Anaheim) |
| Southwestern Arizona (Yuma, Gila Bend) | Southwestern Arizona (Tucson outskirts) |
| Hawaii (Big Island higher elevations) | Hawaii (Low coastal areas, Honolulu) |
| Northern Mexico (Baja California Norte) | Northern Mexico (Baja California Sur) |
Garlic Requirements in Zone 10
By the way, garlic prefers a cold climate of 50 to 60F (10 to 15C) to complete its growth cycle correctly. Congratulations! Zone 10 offers enough winters for garlic, so you can plant it easily. But stop!
Here are other essential points to consider while planting garlic in zone 10.
- First, timing is crucial when planting. The best time to plant garlic in zone 10 is from November to December.
- Do you know? It is generally planted in the fall from September to October, but for zone 10, you should plant its cloves later when the soil is cool and the night climate is free from chilly winds.
- Secondly, some varieties grow well in zone 10. There are two main types of garlic: hard-neck and Soft-neck. Understand them and then choose the best varieties for your zone.
- Third but not least, care properly! This includes preparing the soil and planting correctly. Let’s take action on all three!
Also, Discover how environmental factors affect plant growth.
When to Plant Garlic in Zone 10
As I have already said, garlic’s general planting time is in the fall. Still, for your zone 10, you must plant it from November to December when the temperature cools. This time allows garlic to create strong roots in the soil, which is vital for healthy garlic bulbs.
January to February provides the ideal climate for creating a little garlic plant with stems and leaves. When March and April come, the middle time is for its maturity. Finally, you can see its healthy bulb from late May to early June.
Yes, but your results depend on your work and care. Remember, always, that God gives the best results of your hard work. So, stay consistent and be patient when gardening!
Best Garlic Varieties for Zone 10
While garlic varieties depend on your preferred taste and size you want for harvesting, here are some recommended varieties that grow best in Zone 10;
●Soft-neck Garlic
The soft-neck varieties, Artichoke and Silver skin, are the best choices for your zone. They grow quickly and have a mild taste, and you can easily store them after harvesting. Compared to hard-neck garlic, soft-neck garlic can’t handle extreme cold, making it ideal for warmer areas like zone 10. Just follow its ideal temperature of 40 to 75F (4 to 24C). Too much warm (92F, 32C) and too much cold (20F to -6C) may stress soft-neck garlic.
●Hard-neck Garlic
Hard-neck varieties like Rocambole and Purple Stripe have a strong flavor. They can grow in zone 10, but as they prefer cold climates and can manage extreme frost (-10F, -23C), giving them their ideal temperature (32 to 50F, 0 to 10C) is vital for their optimal growth. In a too-warm situation (85F, 29C), you can keep hard-neck garlic in the refrigerator at 0 to 4 C.
Quick Map for Both Varieties
- Hard-neck: It prefers 32 to 50F (0 to 10C) and can manage -23C (-10F). However, hard-neck garlic may stress at 85F (29).
- Soft-neck: It likes 40 to 75F (4 to 24C) and can’t thrive under 20F (-6C) {too cold} and 92F (32C) {too hot}.
Ideal Garlic Varieties according to Regional Environment in Zone 9 (a, b)
| Region | Challenges | Recommended Garlic Varieties |
| Southern Florida (10a/10b) | High humidity, fungal diseases, warm winters, overwatering risks | Creole varieties like ‘Creole Red,’ Soft-neck varieties like ‘Artichoke’ |
| Hawaii (10a/10b) | High humidity, frequent rain, lack of cold weather for bulb formation | Creole varieties like ‘Rose de Lautrec’ or ‘Mexican Red’ |
| Southern California (10a) | Mild winters, high summer temperatures, risk of overwatering | Soft-neck varieties like ‘California Early’ |
| Southwestern Arizona (10a) | Intense sun, dry conditions, limited water availability | Heat-tolerant varieties like ‘Inchelium Red’ |
| Southern Nevada (10a) | Arid climate, sandy soil, high temperatures, low water availability | Soft-neck varieties or Creole garlic |
| Northern Mexico (10a) | Poor soil quality, limited water resources, mild winters | Hardy varieties like ‘Mexican Red’ or ‘Artichoke’ |
How to Plant Garlic Cloves- Easy Steps
After choosing the suited variety according to your zone 10, check out our article;
Final Thoughts: Growing Garlic in Zone 10
Finally, after 6 to 8 months, we get a big harvest from healthy garlic bulbs. Oh! Really, yes, you can do it.
Growing garlic in Zone 10 is easy: understand your zone climate and take action to plant it. Zone 10 is a warmer area with mild winters and hot summers, so soft-neck garlic is most recommended; hard-neck garlic could also be used, but giving the ideal temperature is vital. Gardening requires dealing with pests like termites—get tips on controlling termites in your garden here
