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
20 Mar 20, TIME SALANOA (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi i am really try to find a place in NZ to buy a garlic to plant in my garden,any help for me please.Thanks.
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Mar 20, Raych (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Just buy NZ Garlic from the fruit shop (which will still be open during quarantine), break it apart and plant the largest cloves and eat the little ones.
Reply or Post a new comment
23 Mar 20, Anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
GOOGLE - where to buy garlic in NZ.
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Mar 20, anon (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Look up seed selling places on the internet.
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Mar 20, Joe (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Never grew garlic before. Ready to flip garden bed and prepare to plant. Is Northwestern Pennsylvania in spring to early to plant? Thanks.
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Mar 20, Martin (USA - Zone 6b climate)
We are growing garlic for first time and put them in in the Fall (Oct). They grew rapidly and then laid down for the winter. We are expecting them to jump up as the weather warms and should be ready by early June. From what I understand if you plant in the Spring you will have stunted bulbs.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Mar 20, Ian Cummings (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Try these links, a great cool climate variety is Dunganski (Std Purple Stripe) if you can get cloves. https://www.abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/guess-my-garlic/9436272
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Mar 20, Allan Clarke (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello, I would love to grow garlic, you say that it should be planted in cold weather, but this year is very queer, it is cold now, but is still the last days of summer, can I still plant it now. I live in Victor Harbor, South Australia. Have a great day people. Allan.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Mar 20, Anon (Australia - temperate climate)
The planting times here are a guide only. You could probably plant a month either side of their planting months. Soil temperature is the more important thing. Summer crops need a higher soil temp where as winter crops need a cooler soil temp. Google germination temperatures for vegetables.
Reply or Post a new comment
01 Mar 20, (USA - Zone 5a climate)
Hi Newbie here to garlic I'm in 5a zone northern state in USA Garlic says best in our zone to plant in September and October but it says 17-24 weeks to harvest yet it says it needs a temperature of 50 to 90ﾟ That would put it into our Winter season shortly after planting them can someone explain maybe I misunderstanding What it is saying. Thank you (Gardenate reply : I have added the information that explains what to do if planting late in the year)
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 241 - 250 of 907 comments
See comments for all plants

Thankyou for comments. I am preparing soil now for planting. may be in two to three weeks.Have had to get soil hoed up this year instead of digging up. Much easier.! I have only sold in small amounts this year . Have found if customers buy lots to plant they forget about it or cannot find it amongst weeds etc. Home gardners are better to plant no more than 20 bulbs .They can look after them fertilise etc. They do need care, although easy to grow. They have wonder flavour and do not go off. I market my Garlic for your Good Health and to eat them freshly sliced daily with a biscuit and a little tomato on fresh bread and honey. or toast. Wonderfull.Thats why I call them the "Pearls of Life."

- Barbara Burnet

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.