Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                P P    

(Best months for growing Garlic in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant cloves

September: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

October: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

  • Easy to grow. Plant cloves. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 4 - 5 inches apart
  • Harvest in 17-25 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Dill, Tomatoes, Parsnips
  • Avoid growing close to: Asparagus, Beans, Brassicas, Peas, Potatoes

Your comments and tips

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
18 Aug 22, Kristi (USA - Zone 8b climate)
Hello, we’d like to purchase garlic to grow in FL zone 8b. Which types would you recommend? Thanks so much!
Reply or Post a new comment
06 Oct 22, Melinda Schwab (USA - Zone 8a climate)
We use Sam's Club garlic because it is cheap and quickly available.... ours were huge by May after we planted in October. We dug a deep rectangular in ground spot about a foot deep and filled the lower half with horse manure bedding and put blended sandy compost on top of the horse bedding manure (we actually planned on making a "hot bed"/cold frame there but termites usually destroy wood structures here at ground level) and our garlic were big as tennis balls! We recently tried planting in a bed that we didn't put a lot of fertilizer first and got VERY depressing results so I say go big or go home on nutrients in the bed first or you may be disappointed. I really do not think the type as much as the preparation of the bed is what gives the best results. We just wanted a lot of food for the least investment... you may have other goals. Either way... doesn't hurt to fluff up most anyplace with fresh soil/nutrients first.
Reply or Post a new comment
18 Aug 22, Gladys (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can i plant garlic in August?
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Sep 22, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi Gladys That is not adviced. Garlic is a cool weather crop with a long growing period. Garlic is a relatively easy crop to grow if one follows the "rules" so to speak. The cloves only form and expand during the last few weeks of its growing period. Watch Sean's video on growing great garlic.
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Aug 22, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
It does say Feb to April.
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Aug 22, Jacques Labuschagne (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Can I plant garlic in KZN. It's a hot humid climate in the summer. Will get irrigation and water often.
Reply or Post a new comment
06 Aug 22, R Hulse (USA - Zone 7b climate)
There are several types of garlic, but the main two are hardneck and softneck. Hardneck is for colder climates and softneck is for warmer climates. Not sure about elephant garlic or any of the others but you can search the internet to find out what zones they grow best in.
Reply or Post a new comment
03 Aug 22, Jeanette (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I ask if I plant the galic now is a problem or what's time which season I must plant the the galic?
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Aug 22, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Mid Autumn - late March, April, early May. Harvest in November here in South Australia.
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Jul 22, mini me (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I get my elephant garlic cloves started in egg trays, with a little water in the bottom . too get them to start rooting before i plant them. Its Way quicker then the fridge method. Also nothing worse then planting a garlic clove that wont root. This method works for me ,so i will continue to do it :)
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 111 - 120 of 901 comments
See comments for all plants

Where in SA can garlic bulbs for planting be bought in bulk?

- Beverly Hartman

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.