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

13 May 22, CJ (Canada - Zone 5b Temperate Warm Summer climate)
HELLO THERE PLEASE HELP I WANT TO PLANT TOMATOES, CUCUMBERS, LETTUCE, HOT PEPPERS , BELL PEPPERS, GARLIC & ONIONS. I LIVE IN OSHAWA NORTH ONTARIO IN A CONDO SO CAN ONLY PLANT IN CONTAINERS. I HOPE YOU WILL BE ABLE TO HELP - THANK YOU
13 May 22, Janice (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Good day I started planting garlic in April 2022,when do I harvesf
21 Sep 22, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
You can start checking your garlic crop now. Look at the leaves and if you can count 5 to 6 leaves browining from the bottom up then it's time to harvest.
18 May 22, anonymous (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
About 5-6 months time
25 Apr 22, Penny (USA - Zone 5b climate)
How do I grow California softneck garlic in zone 5B, to be PLANTED in the spring?
09 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 6b climate)
we put ours in mid october and get good sized heads by mid july to end of july
26 Apr 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The guide says Sept - Oct planting - if that isn't your Spring then it won't grow.
12 Apr 22, Barbara White (Australia - tropical climate)
I want to try growing garlic in the tropics what type would you recommend
13 Apr 22, Bury (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Glenlarge and Italian Pink
04 Apr 22, Bob (Australia - temperate climate)
For a number of years now in Melbourne, we have been planting Garlic near the shortest day and harvesting near to the longest day of the year. So far all OK.
Showing 141 - 150 of 912 comments

Just to clarify what I think I understand…. If I buy one bulb of garlic and break it apart into individual cloves, I plant each clove and expect to get a growing bulb. Am I one the right track here?

- Rhonda Bowen

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.