Garlic
Allium sativum
Garlic (Allium sativum) is a cold-hardy bulb crop well-suited to Zones 3-9, planted in fall for summer harvest. Hardneck varieties preferred in Northeast for flavor and cold tolerance; requires well-drained soil and moderate water.
Crop Snowflake Score
/acre
/acre
/acre
years
Overview
Growing Season
- Plant
- Mid-late October – Mid-late October
- Harvest
- Early-mid July – Early-mid July
- Frost-free days
- 150+
- GDD (base 50°F)
- 2,400
Yield
- Typical yield
- 4,000 lbs/acre
- Productive lifespan
- 1 years
- Years to full prod.
- 1
- Labor
- 190 hrs/acre
Market Fit
Active Regional Buyers
Established crop with known regional buyers
Price Trend Stable/Up
Price trending upward due to growing demand
Supply Below Demand
Strong unmet demand regionally and nationally
Multiple Buyer Channels
Multiple market channels: wholesale, retail, processing, and/or direct
Value-Added Potential
Strong value-added potential through processing, direct sales, or specialty products
Market Growth Projected
Strong market growth projected
Market Channels
Climate Fit
Hardiness Zone Match
Region's hardiness zone within crop range (3.0-9.0)
GDD Sufficient
Regional GDD (2600) meets crop requirement (2400)
Precipitation Compatible
Regional precipitation (~40 in/yr) compatible with crop needs
Frost-Free Season OK
Frost-free season (160 days) meets crop requirement (150 days)
Chill Hours Met
Regional chill hours (1100) meet crop requirement (240+)
Climate Trend Favorable
Climate projections remain favorable for this crop in the region
Soil Compatibility
Soil Texture
Drainage
Infrastructure Fit
Equipment Compatible
Standard farm equipment compatible or easily adapted
Storage Available
Dry/ambient storage sufficient; commonly available on farms
Irrigation Compatible
Low water needs or rain-fed viable
Field Layout Suitable
Vineyard field layouts suitable for this crop
Labor Availability
Moderate labor requirements; manageable with planning
Processing Proximity
No nearby specialized processing; may need direct marketing or shipping
Equipment Requirements
planting
Compact tractor for bed preparation and cultivation. Not strictly required for very small plantings (<0.5 acre) where hand tools suffice.
Mechanical garlic planter for operations over 0.5 acre. Places cloves at proper depth (2-3 inches) and spacing (4-8 inches). Small plantings are typically done by hand.
Creates raised beds for improved drainage, which is critical for garlic. Can be combined with plastic mulch layer. Manual bed shaping is feasible for small plots.
For applying straw mulch after fall planting. Mulch insulates cloves over winter, suppresses weeds, and conserves moisture. Can be applied by hand for small plots.
harvesting
Tractor-mounted blade that loosens soil beneath garlic bulbs for easier pulling. Essential to avoid bulb damage. Hand digging with a spading fork works for very small plantings.
post_harvest
Ventilated curing area with racks, screens, or barn floor space. Garlic must cure 2-4 weeks at 75-90°F with good airflow. Fans may be needed to ensure adequate ventilation.
For cleaning cured bulbs — trimming roots and tops. Manual trimming with shears is standard for small operations. Mechanical trimmers available for larger volumes.
Insulated storage at 32-35°F and 65-75% relative humidity for long-term storage of cured garlic. Extends marketable window by several months.
Storage Requirements
Dry cured storage (long-term)
Temperature
30–32°F
Humidity
60–70%
Max Storage
210 days
Ambient dry storage
Temperature
55–65°F
Humidity
60–70%
Max Storage
90 days
Finance Fit
Revenue Above Average
Gross revenue ($16,000/acre) exceeds regional average
Input Costs Acceptable
Annual operating costs ($3,000/acre) within typical farm budgets
Payback Period OK
Reaches full production in 1 years; acceptable payback
Insurance Available
No federal crop insurance; NAP may be available for some disaster scenarios
Revenue Per Labor Hour
Revenue per labor hour ($84) is competitive
Grants/Subsidies
Grant and subsidy programs available (Specialty Crop Block Grant, EQIP, Beginning Farmer, etc.)
Economics Breakdown
| Avg Price/Unit | $4/per lb (direct/organic) |
| Gross Revenue/Acre | $16,000 |
| Annual Operating Cost | $3,000/acre |
| Establishment Cost | $9,000/acre |
| Total Input Cost | —/acre |
| Net Return/Acre | $2,500 |
| Revenue/Labor Hour | — |
| Crop Insurance | Not available |
Source: Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA RMA, regional budget studies (2025)
Risk Fit
Manageable Pest/Disease
Low pest/disease pressure; manageable with standard IPM
Market Diversified
Market access diversified across multiple channels
Low Establishment Risk
Low establishment risk; quick to establish or low upfront investment
Climate Resilient
Hardy and resilient to climate variability in the region
Regulatory Burden Low
Minimal regulatory burden for production and sale
Diversifies Portfolio
Diversifies farm revenue away from grape monoculture
Known Risks
disease
Devastating soil-borne fungal disease that can persist in soil for 20+ years. Causes white fluffy mycelium on bulb base and stem plate decay. Favored by cool soil temperatures (10-20°C).
Soil-borne fungus causing premature yellowing, stunting, and soft rot at the basal plate. Spreads through infested soil or seed stock.
Fungal disease that infects mature plants through neck tissues or wounds. Gray-brown discoloration and watery decay develop at the neck, often becoming apparent during curing and storage. Favored by cool, wet conditions, high plant density, and excessive nitrogen.
pest
Tiny sucking insects cause silvery feeding damage on leaves, reducing photosynthesis and bulb size. Can transmit Iris Yellow Spot Virus. Major pest globally.
Microscopic mites feed on damaged or diseased bulbs, worsening decay. Often secondary to other damage. Found in storage and field.
Endoparasitic nematode causes bloated, distorted stems and softened bulbs. Can destroy entire crops. Survives in soil for years.
climate
Garlic requires 4-8 weeks of cold temperatures (0-10°C) to properly bulb. Warm winters in subtropical regions or climate change-affected areas may prevent adequate vernalization.
weather
While garlic is cold-hardy, late hard frosts after significant spring growth can damage leaf tips, temporarily reducing growth. Rarely fatal.
market
Chinese garlic dominates global trade at very low prices. Small-scale and domestic growers face price pressure unless targeting premium/local markets.
Garlic must be stored properly (0°C, 60-70% RH) to maintain quality through the marketing season. Improper storage leads to sprouting, shriveling, or mold.
Nutritional Yield
Nutrition data pending.
Research agents will profile Garlic against USDA FoodData Central on the next maintenance pass. Per-acre nutritional yield will appear here once the per-100g panel is recorded.
Ecosystem Services
Ecosystem service data pending.
The next research-agent rotation will document this crop's contributions to pollinator support, soil health, water quality, biodiversity, and carbon sequestration.
Nearby Buyers
Data Sources
Every data point on this page is traceable to its source. Below you'll find the complete provenance trail — which sources were used, when data was last verified, and a full change history.
Primary sources: Data sourced from Cornell Cooperative Extension, Penn State Extension, USDA resources, and regional research.
Economics data year: 2025 · Region: lake_erie
58 tracked changes across 8 data categories