Garlic Planting Calculator — Cloves, Spacing & Timing
Calculate garlic clove quantities, spacing, and planting depth.
How We Calculate This
Cloves per row = (Row length ÷ Spacing) + 1, since a clove sits at each end of the row. Total cloves = Cloves per row × Rows. Bulbs to order = Total cloves ÷ Cloves per bulb, rounded up. Each clove grows into one bulb.
Yield assumes a 90% survival rate by default, which is typical for autumn-planted UK garlic in good conditions; lower it for wet, heavy soil or bird damage.
Spacings follow RHS guidance: Softneck and Hardneck 15cm, Elephant 20cm, all with 30cm between rows. Standard cloves are planted 2.5cm deep (tip below the surface), elephant garlic 10cm deep.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026
All calculations are estimates based on standard gardening guidelines. Results may vary with soil conditions, climate, and plant varieties.