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Is It Too Late to Plant Garlic and Spring Bulbs in Haddonfield? A November Timing Guide

Short answer, no, not yet. Here's how deep, how far apart and what to mulch with, straight from Rutgers.

By Live Haddonfield ยท

No, it's not too late, as long as the ground isn't frozen. Rutgers says fall garlic in New Jersey goes in generally mid October to late November, and one Rutgers guide puts tulips in November. So if you've got a bag of bulbs sitting in the garage, this weekend is a good time to get them in the ground in Haddonfield.

Garlic: plant it now, eat it next summer

Rutgers fact sheet FS1233 says garlic needs about nine months to mature and calls October the best month, three to eight weeks before the first frost. A newer Rutgers Hunterdon County guide gives a little more room: three to four weeks before the first killing frost, generally mid October to late November. Mid November is late, but still inside the window.

How to do it, per Rutgers:

  • Buy the right garlic. Named varieties from a garden center or seed catalog. Not supermarket garlic, which may not grow here and is often treated so it won't sprout.
  • Split the bulb right before planting. Keep each clove's papery wrapper and flat base on.
  • Plant 1 to 2 inches deep, pointed end up. Space cloves 3 to 6 inches apart, rows 9 to 24 inches apart.
  • Pick a sunny spot with good drainage. A raised bed helps. Soil pH of 6.5 to 7.0 is ideal.
  • Mulch 3 to 4 inches deep. Straw or pesticide free grass clippings protect cloves from frost heaving.

One clove makes one bulb. Harvest is June or July next year.

Spring bulbs: roots before frost

Rutgers fact sheet FS1220 says spring bulbs do best planted mid September through October, once soil drops below 60 degrees, so roots can grow before the ground freezes. A Rutgers master gardener guide breaks it down by type: small bulbs like crocus and snowdrops in September, daffodils and hyacinths in October, tulips in November.

So tulips are right on time. Daffodils are late but worth planting now rather than letting them dry out in a bag.

The rules of thumb, per FS1220:

  • Depth is two to three times the bulb's height, measured from the bottom of the bulb.
  • Tulips and daffodils: about 8 inches deep, 8 inches apart.
  • Crocus and anemones: 3 to 4 inches deep, 3 to 4 inches apart.
  • Point up, roots down.
  • Five to six hours of direct sun. Plant in drifts you can see from a window.
  • Water once to settle the soil, but don't overdo it. Soggy beds rot bulbs.
  • Mulch 2 to 3 inches. Go light over small early bulbs so they can push through.

Out of yard space?

Rutgers says bulbs can be forced in pots from October through the end of November. Six tulips or four to six daffodils fit in a 6 inch pot. Keep them at 35 to 48 degrees for at least 12 to 13 weeks, like in an unheated basement, then bring them in for winter blooms.

While you're out there

Got leaves? Don't bag them all. Our guide to fall garden cleanup explains how shredded leaves make good mulch, which is exactly what your new garlic bed wants. And if the bare spot is out front, the borough may plant a street tree for you.

Sources

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FAQ

Can I still plant garlic in New Jersey in November?
Yes. Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Hunterdon County says fall garlic goes in three to four weeks before the first killing frost, generally mid October to late November.
How deep do tulip and daffodil bulbs go?
Rutgers fact sheet FS1220 says about eight inches deep and eight inches apart, measured from the bottom of the bulb.
Can I plant supermarket garlic?
Rutgers advises against it. Store garlic may not grow well here and is often treated to prevent sprouting. Buy named varieties from a garden center or seed catalog.