Growing garlic in Alaska is easy, whether you are from any zone of Alaska (1-6). Garlic is the cold tolerant bulb plant, making ideal choice for Alaska’s gardeners. In this guide, I will explain the growing method from outdoor to indoor planting tips, especially for you! So, take the garlic and read following;
Alaska’s Climate for Growing garlic
Alaska offers some challenges for cultivation, but with proper preparation and the right techniques, you can grow any plant. Just you need to understand plant preference!
Alaska is the biggest state in the U.S. and covers multiple areas inside. Each area has unique weather conditions and soil type, however, you better know about your local area where you live. According to USDA hardiness zones, Alaska consists of generally 6 to 7 zones. These zones are cold, where temperatures can drop 60F (-51C) in winter.
By the way, Alaska’s soil is different but often fertile and may be acidic, therefore, adjust soil according to garlic (6.0 to 7.0pH).
Garlic is a cold-hardy plant, so generally, planting it in the fall allows it to establish roots gently and grow healthy.
How to Grow Garlic in Alaska? A Complete Growing Guide
There are generally two methods for growing garlic in Alaska’s climate. Both have their benefits;
- Outdoor Planting: When you want to plant at the recommended time, it is in the fall (September-October).
- Indoor Planting: When the time has been out, and you want to plant soft-neck garlic, or when the temperature is too cold, and you have the proper setup for indoor planting.
It is not necessary that you grow hard-necks outdoors or plant soft-necks indoors, but rather you need to consider their ideal temperature, which is mentioned below.
Care and Maintenance for Hard-neck Garlic
For example, hard-neck garlic likes temperatures between 32 and 50 Fahrenheit and zero to 10 Celsius, but if the temperature gets too cold, meaning -10 Fahrenheit or -23 Celsius, then care needs to be taken and also not to give too hot an environment like 85 Fahrenheit or 29 Celsius can harm hard-neck garlic, so try to grow them according to their preferred environment if you want a good harvest.
Care and Maintenance for Soft-neck Garlic
In the case of soft-neck garlic, a temperature of 40 to 75 or 4 to 24 degrees Celsius is applicable. However, in very cold environments, such as 20 degrees Fahrenheit or minus six degrees Celsius, indoor planting is necessary. Just understand that soft-neck garlic cannot tolerate this cold environment, and a high temperature of 90 degrees Fahrenheit or 32 degrees Celsius damages it.
✅Moral! Whether you are planting indoors or outdoors, you need to understand whether the variety you choose likes the environment you are giving it.
Discover how environmental factors affect plant growth traits.
Also explore 10 reasons why your plants aren’t thriving.
Growing Garlic Outdoor in Alaska (Hard-neck garlic)
By the way, the generally recommended time is fall (September to October), but this can vary depending on the zone where you live. So here is the table that clears all confession of timing for outdoor growing garlic in each zone of Alaska;
| Alaska Zone | Planting Time | When Temperature is in Alaska; |
| Zone 1 | Late September to Early October | 35F to 55F (1C to 13C) |
| Zone 2 | Mid to Late September | 40F to 60°F (4C to 16C) |
| Zone 3 | Early to Mid October | 45F to 65F (7C to 18C) |
| Zone 4 | Early to Mid October | 50F to 70F (10C to 21C) |
| Zone 5 | Late October to Early November | 55F to 75F (13C to 24C) |
| Zone 6 | Mid-October to Early November | 10F to 0F (-23C to -18C) |
Select the Best Varieties of Garlic
Hard-neck Garlic is perfect for outdoor use because it can tolerate extreme cold. But if you want to plant soft-neck garlic in Alaska, zones 5 and 6 will be suitable. Otherwise, if you are from another cold zone of Alaska, like zones 1, 2, 3, or 4, you can choose the indoor method for planting garlic, as it allows you to create a stable and perfect environment for garlic. Learn more about garlic varieties!
| Alaska Zone | Hard-neck garlic (outdoor) | Soft-neck garlic (Indoor) |
| Zone 1 | Rocambole, Purple Stripe, Creole | Not recommended for outdoors; indoors only |
| Zone 2 | Rocambole, Porcelain, Purple Stripe | Silverskin (Indoor only) |
| Zone 3 | Porcelain, Rocambole, Purple Stripe | Silverskin (Indoor), Artichoke (Indoor) |
| Zone 4 | Porcelain, Creole, Rocambole | Silverskin (Indoor), Artichoke (Outdoor possible) |
| Zone 5 | Porcelain, Rocambole, Purple Stripe | Silverskin (Outdoor), Artichoke (Outdoor) |
| Zone 6 | Porcelain, Rocambole, Purple Stripe, German White | Silverskin (Outdoor), Artichoke (Outdoor) |
Prepare The soil
Well-drainage and sandy or silty soil are best for optimal garlic growth in Alaska. Use compost or organic matter to warm the soil, which is better for your cold areas in Alaska’s Zone 1 to 6. Keep soil neutral to slightly acidic (6.0 to 7.0) for garlic; if your soil is too acidic, add calcium carbonate fertilizer to balance its acidity. Hard-neck prefers cool soil with plenty of organic matter while soft-neck like warm and dry soil.
💡Pro Tip: Use raised beds for better soil, faster warming, and easy drainage. They are great for colder areas and make planting easier on your back!
Choose Healthy Garlic Cloves
Consider this step because selecting healthy cloves brings a big harvest. So, take the big and healthy cloves from your garlic bulb. Remember, Big Clove will offer big and healthy garlic bulbs. Avoid small and damaged cloves, as they may produce weaker plants.
Plant the Cloves in the Prepared Soil
Plant each clove 2-3 inches deep in the soil, keeping the rooted face under the soil and the pointed section above the soil. This allows the root end to anchor into the soil and grow up while the pointed end grows upward.
Keep a 6-8 inches distance between every clove to give enough space for growing them. Proper spacing stops overcrowding and reduces the risk of disease.
Apply Mulch for Garlic Growth
After planting garlic in prepared soil, cover the garlic bed with mulch. You can use straws or shredded leaves, making layers 4-3 inches wide. This mulch helps to retain water vapor, protects the garlic cloves during Alaska’s freezing winter, and maintains soil moisture. Remember, in the case of soft-neck garlic and -6C tempereture, mulching becomes more essential to balane the soil tempereture
Water the Garlic
Garlic needs consistent moist soil but not soggy! By the way, if you are planting garlic in the fall, there is no essential need to water consistently because the soil is already cold and moist in the fall. But remember that when it’s not raining, give water every 7-10 days. If harvesting time is near, reduce water frequency by 2 to 3 weeks before harvesting.
💡Pro Tip: Check the soil. If the upper 1–2-inch area is dry, watering is required. Do not let the soil dry out!
Growing Garlic Indoor in Alaska (Soft-Neck Garlic)
You need to do indoor planting during winter, so prepare your seedling trays and keep them indoors. Indoor planting is ideal for soft-neck garlic so, give them its recomanded artficial climate indoors.
➔After 4-6 weeks, transplant them outdoors when spring begins. When suitable weather for garlic in Alaska is available, you can transplant in March to April. Just make sure the soil temperature is 50F to 60F (10C to 15C) while transplanting!
➔Remember to harden off; it’s essential to prepare garlic seedlings according to the outdoor environment. Consider 7 to 10 days for hardening off.
➔In this method of planting, you select a 6-8 inches deep container with drainage holes at the bottom to prevent waterlogging.
➔The method for preparing soil, planting garlic cloves, watering, and applying mulch is the same as I mentioned above.
➔As indoor seedling means giving enough temperature and care as the plant wants, so keep the temperature 55F to 75F (13C to 24C) for garlic. Ensure the environment is warm and stable to avoid extreme fluctuations in temperature.
Sunlight Requirements
Keep your plant in a sunny spot for outdoor planting where direct sunlight can reach garlic for 6 to 8 hours, especially in Alaska’s short growing seasons.
Create artificial light indoors, as garlic is preferred for 6 to 8 hours. Don’t make it highly warm or too cold; create a balanced atmosphere for indoor growing garlic in Alaska.
When to Fertilize Garlic in Alaska?
The exact timing and method are used for fertilizing garlic plants. Let’s consider this;
●Pre-Planting Fertilizer: Mix compost or balanced organic fertilizer (such as 10-10-10) into the soil before planting garlic. This warms your soil, which is better for garlic to establish roots in before freezing ground.
●Mid-Growth Fertilizer: When the garlic sprouts in the spring, apply nitrogen-rich fertilizer to encourage robust leaf growth. You can use compost, fish emulsion, or a specialized garlic fertilizer.
●Late-Growth Fertilizer: As garlic heads form, use a low-nitrogen fertilizer, such as one high in potassium and phosphorus, to help the bulbs grow large and healthy.
Pest and Disease Control
This is the primary and most impacted step for your garlic, so consider it. First, take healthy and big cloves to plant them to stop future issues. Otherwise, pests and diseases are common issues, so let’s find this solution for a good harvest;
●Common Pests on Garlic and Their Control
➔Aphids can attack garlic leaves or stems and slow their growth. To control them, spray Insecticidal soap or neem oil. Ladybugs may naturally control Aphids, so introducing them to your plants can protect your garlic.
➔Thrips: Thrips can damage garlic leaves and weaken the whole plant, so use yellow sticky traps or spray Insecticidal soap or neem oil.
➔Garlic Maggots: They stay in the soil and damage garlic bulb effectively. Do crop rotation to protect the lifecycle of maggots or use Garlic powder or diatomaceous earth to stop maggots’ growth
➔Cutworms: They cut the seedling and damage the plant. Keeping Cabbage collars or toilet paper rolls under seedlings can protect them from cutworms. But earthworms are beneficial for soil health.
Sometimes, termites also make their home in your garden due to moisture and wood. So, handling them is also crucial! here is a guide for preventing termites from garden.
●Diseases Control
➔White Rot (Fusarium) Disease: This disease affects garlic bulbs and roots, allowing rot. Wet and soggy soil can produce fungi, so ensure your soil is well-drained. Don’t plant garlic in a different place after a year to break the fungus cycle. For instance, if any plant is affected by this disease, remove it and plant it in good soil.
➔Downy Mildew & Rust Disease:
Downy Mildew fungus produces a yellow spot, and Rust disease creates an orange and brown spot on the garlic leaves, causing them to fall. Use fungicide (like copper-based) spray as it helps destroy both.
Additionally, make sure your garlic has enough space between it. Cut affected leaves to stop fungus growth and enhance air circulation.
➔Botrytis (Gray Mold):
This mold grows on the garlic bulb and leaves in wet conditions, damaging the garlic plant. Choose a soil in which water can’t stay. If you see grey mold on leaves, cut the affected leaves to stop more growth.
How Much Garlic Takes Time to Ready?
➔You will be excited to see garlic bulbs on your grown plant, but it takes a specific amount of time! If you plant it carefully and according to your zone of Alaska, you will see the best result in a big harvest.
➔Typically, garlic takes 8-9 months to make bulbs, which means that if you plant them in the fall, they will be ready in late spring to early summer. But everything depends on the variety and climate conditions.
➔The problem is clarified! This complete article describes the best varieties and climate conditions as well as care and maintenance for Alaska. It doesn’t matter which zone you have, just understand the climate of your zone and start planting accordingly.
What and When to Avoid?
- Avoid planting garlic too early or too late in the fall.
- Avoid overwatering, especially as bulbs mature.
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilizers late in the season.
- Avoid planting garlic in the same spot each year.
- Avoid disturbing the soil too close to harvest.
- Avoid harvesting too early or too late.
Final Thoughts-Growing Garlic in Alaska (Zone 1 to 6)
As Alaska consists of 6 zones, each zone has its own climate conditions, so growing garlic in every zone according to its climate state is easy. You need to understand your zone’s climate and act accordingly. Generally, the planting time of garlic is September to October, which means fall, but if time has passed and you want to grow soft-neck garlic varieties, you should choose the indoor planting method.
By the way, if you want a quick garlic harvest, buy seedlings and transplant them outdoors in your home garden or yard. All planting methods (Indoor, Outdoor, and Transplanting) have several benefits. Choose any technique and plant them, but keep them in mind! Garlic requires a temperature of 60°F to 75°F (15°C to 24°C), so set its planting according to your zone’s climate.
If you have any inquiries or questions about growing garlic in alaska, please comment or contact me, and I will share my thoughts on your topic! Thank you so much for taking the time!
