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

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20 Oct 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here how to plant it. In full sun and check the soil down an inch or so, if dryish water - like each 2-3 days.
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08 Oct 22, Beth (USA - Zone 6b climate)
I should have my first frost this week and haven't gotten them in the ground yet. I haven't had the time this year. Is it too late to plant for harvest next year? Any suggestions on how to plant and fertilizer needed would be greatly appreciated.
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10 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 6b climate)
You had better be quick about it.
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30 Sep 22, Barb (USA - Zone 5b climate)
How often do you water the garlic? What are garlic frills??? I think that is the word....when the tops start to curl.
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30 Oct 22, Jo (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Scapes are only grown from the hardneck garlic. Once they coil around 1-2 times it’s important to cut close to the stem so the plant doesn’t expend it’s energy growing the scape not the bulb. Once the scapes grow the bulbs are usually ready to be harvested a month or so thereafter! Hardnecks are great for cooler zones and softnecks for warmer climates. For storage though softnecks are much preferred as they can store well 6-9 months whereas hardneck bulbs usually only 3-6 months.
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03 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Your soil should be moist but not really wet. Try watering 2-3 times a week depending on how hot it is.
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18 Sep 22, John Downey (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted Australian Purple Garlic. Think it's the wrong variety. Grew ok..I think? But has been fairly static for a while. Confusing reading on garlic. Some say plant march and harvest in September.7 months. Most others say it's a 9 month crop. Any advice please. Tia John.
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21 Sep 22, Ruth Lauster (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi John, we have been growing hardneck garlic near Barrington Tops for around 8 Years now, found Tasmanian Purple growing best in our climate (700m above sea level), generally hardnecks grow better in cooler climates as oppose to softnecks, generally its a good idea to try a variety of cultivars to find the one that suits your location best! Penny Woodward is an expert, I refer to her books and this website might help https://www.australiangarlic.net.au/
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19 Sep 22, (Australia - tropical climate)
They say plant shortest day and harvest longest day. Maybe sub-tropical plant late April to June. Plants don't grow much in July August - weather cold)
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09 Sep 22, Donna (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I’m in 7b. Will garlic thrive in pots and standing gardens?
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Showing 111 - 120 of 915 comments
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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.

- Melinda Schwab

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