How to Soak Garlic Before Planting

A simple two-step prep—fertilizer soak first, then a short hydrogen-peroxide rinse—for stronger starts and cleaner cloves in Zone 9b.

Total Prep
~4 hrs (mostly hands-off)

Best Timing
Zone 9b: Late Oct–Nov

Soak Order
Fertilizer → Peroxide

Printable
1-Page PDF Guide

Video
Watch on YouTube

What You’ll Need

Item	Notes
Garlic heads	Choose large, firm bulbs; keep clove skins on.
Bowl or jar(s)	Enough to fully submerge cloves in each step.
Liquid fertilizer	Fish or seaweed emulsion, mixed to the label’s normal rate.
3% hydrogen peroxide	Use undiluted for the short sanitizing soak.
Strainer/colander	For draining between soaks.
Labels (optional)	Helpful if prepping multiple varieties.
Gloves (optional)	For sensitive skin.

Shop the Supplies

Use fertilizer at the product’s normal label rate—don’t over-concentrate.

Break apart bulbs: Separate heads into individual cloves; keep papery skins on.
Sort & prep: Choose large, firm cloves; set aside any damaged or mushy ones.
Mix fertilizer bath: Combine water and liquid fertilizer at the normal label rate.
Fertilizer soak (long): Submerge cloves fully for a few hours; swirl once or twice.
Drain well: Pour into a strainer and let excess solution drip off.
Peroxide soak (short): Move cloves to undiluted 3% hydrogen peroxide for ~20 minutes.
Final drain: Strain; no rinse needed.
Plant immediately: Pointy tip up; 2–3″ deep; ~6″ apart (stagger spacing in raised beds).
Water & mulch: Water to settle soil; add 2–3″ mulch to regulate moisture and temperature.

Important: Keep soaks separate—don’t mix fertilizer and peroxide in one container.

Planting window: Late October–November yields the best results.
Moisture: Keep soil slightly moist (not soggy) as roots establish.
Feed later: Side-dress with compost or a balanced organic fertilizer as growth picks up in spring.

Watch the full demo & grab the printable guide:

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