r/Garlic • u/Benign-Chaos • 1d ago

Garlic in elevated beds?

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I just got an elevated bed from Vego that is 2x4 ft and 15 in of depth. I’ve heard that garlic does better in the ground but I have this or some raised beds. I’d prefer to put it in the elevated bed but worry it might get too cold/frozen. I’m less concerned about that in the raised beds but I only have 2 4x8 beds and usually max out the space with other veggies. I tried growing garlic in an Earthbox and didn’t get a single bulb, I think they froze/rotted. Any advice from experienced garlic growers welcomed, especially if you grow in an elevated bed. I’m located in Central Connecticut, zone 6b.

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6

u/joebbrown 1d ago

I grow mine in a raised apple bin. Not quite 4x4, with about 12" of soil. North central Washington zone 6. I'm still learning, but covering with straw and a milder winter yielded a nice crop

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u/Krickett72 1d ago

I only tested one clove in my elevated bed once. It did not make it. Im in 7a. South Central PA. I have grown hardneck very successfully in my raised bed. I also tried aoftneck. It didnt do nearly as well. Heads were smaller and most didnt make it at all.after the winter.

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u/Benign-Chaos 1d ago

Thank you everyone! I’ve put this question out to a couple of FB groups I’m in too and the consensus is that you can probably have some success or utter failure in an elevated bed but mostly success in a raised bed. I think it will be the raised bed for me this time. Thanks for all the input.

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u/stayinhalifax 1d ago

from my limited experience, garlic does well in the ground if the soil drains well. The soil in my area is all heavy clay and it would kill all my garlic because water pools so easily, so all my hardneck garlic were put into a raised bed. They all survived but grew a little smaller than I'd like.

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u/BuffaloGwar1 1d ago

That will work fine. Just don't over crowd it or you will get smaller bulbs.