If you have even a small piece of land, garlic is one of the best fall plants you can grow — especially in states like Pennsylvania where the cold winters work in your favor. Garlic is low-maintenance, beginner-friendly, and incredibly rewarding. You plant it once in the fall, mulch it, and let nature take over until harvest in mid-summer. For busy families, new gardeners, or anyone wanting to use their land productively, garlic is a perfect starting point.
Garlic is also one of the most profitable crops per square foot. A single garlic bulb contains 6–10 cloves, and each clove becomes its own full bulb the next season. If you plant 50 cloves, you’ll harvest 50 bulbs. Gourmet garlic sells for $1–$2 per bulb, or $8–$12 per pound, depending on the variety. A 4×8 raised bed (32 sq ft) can grow roughly 96–120 bulbs, producing 20–30 pounds of garlic. That’s a market value of $160–$360, giving garlic an impressive return of $5 to $12 per square foot. Whether you want to use it at home, sell it, or expand your crop, garlic pays for itself quickly.
Garlic thrives in Pennsylvania because the winter chill helps the cloves establish strong roots. Plant in October or early November, cover with 3–6 inches of mulch, and the garlic will sleep all winter. By early spring, green shoots appear, and by July you’ll be pulling fresh bulbs straight from the soil. It’s one of the simplest—and most satisfying—crops you can grow.
âś… Garlic Planting Checklist (Printable)
How to Plant Garlic
🌿 Why Garlic Belongs on Every Fall Planting List
Garlic belongs at the top of the “best fall plants” list because it’s:
- Extremely easy for beginners
- Very profitable per square foot
- Perfect for Pennsylvania climates
- Long-storing and versatile
- Able to grow with little maintenance
- Ideal for families with limited time
If you want to make the most of your land with minimal effort, garlic delivers more value than almost any other fall crop.