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 20, Edwin Kruger (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can i start planting garlic in Oct to Nov ?
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20 Oct 20, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
It is too late in the year for your climate. Check the garlic page under your climate zone.
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02 Sep 20, Lawrence (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Can i plant in September im in port elizabeth
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03 Sep 20, Anon (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
You can plant it but you probably won't grow a crop, reason, it is the wrong season. Check and do as the planting calendar say at the top of the page.
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29 Aug 20, Karen Mirikitani (USA - Zone 11b climate)
When do you add grass cuttings or dead leaves to the garden bed when growing garlic?
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31 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 3b climate)
Work out if adding to the soil or as a mulch. Google it then.
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11 Aug 20, Dan (USA - Zone 7a climate)
I bought a pack of two christopher ranch organic garlic from grocery store. How do I know if it's soft neck or hard neck.
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24 Oct 20, Pita (USA - Zone 9a climate)
Commercial garlic is treated with something that keeps it from sprouting. I always grow my own garlic and I found out it's the softneck kind because it doesn't make scapes. Softneck garlic types have bigger cloves and last longer than hardneck types. I believe Christoper Ranch garlic is hardneck, but I'm not sure.
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26 Aug 20, Robert (USA - Zone 9b climate)
When you break open the clove of garlic hardneck has a hard stem in the center. Softneck garlic does not. Most grocery store varieties are soft neck.
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13 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9a climate)
The Christopher ranch is only the company name, not the variety of garlic. Work out the variety name and google it or ring C R. Google the difference between soft and hard garlic.
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This is my first year of growing Garlic. The ground is nice and rich and the first little sprouts have started to poke out of the ground. However they are being attacked by birds. Any ideas on how to keep them away?

- Benjamin Petkov

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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.
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