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 5b 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 10°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 12 cm 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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15 Jul 17, Barbara (Australia - temperate climate)
Just wondering if I cut off the green tops for stir fry as suggested it does not hurt the bulbs growing?
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03 Aug 17, Bev (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Your bulb depends on the sugars developed by the leaves - so if you cut the greens to eat you are compromising the bulb. The bulb will still form when its ready, but it will be smaller
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17 Jul 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Maybe try shallots - easy to grow and can grow most of the year.
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15 Jul 17, mick (Australia - temperate climate)
Never had any success growing garlic from supermarket stock despite the shoots being green signalling it's time to plant. I bought 2 rather expensive bulbs and planted out 6 weeks ago. The plants seem to be powering on but I'll see what they look like in December/January. Really hopeful they will work as we consume a lot of garlic...which Woolies and Coles are now selling for $25/kg. Any suggestions as to fertiliser applications, or not, during the growth cycle?
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13 Aug 18, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Mick I have read that Australian garlic, especially supermarket stock , is almost always infected with fusarium root rot. I will next year try to overcome this by washing the cloves with either bleach or hydrogen peroxide (cant remember the protocol). Surprisingly the south american garlic did not show the same problem and grew too well with a very good root system, but sent shoots up from the developing cloves and matured very early (4 months)
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09 Jul 17, Kerry smith (Australia - temperate climate)
My Galic I planted started to shoot but then it died back. I though that the bulbs had rotted. When I went to dig them up last week they all have roots and small green shoots that have not pushed through the surface yet. I planted then at the end of may beginning of June and have covered then over with soil again. Will they grow I'm abit confused as to why the green shoots died back
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08 Jul 17, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Is possible to grow Galic along RichardsbBay area.If possible at what time of the year.What type of soil is the best to grow it
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12 Jul 17, Man (Australia - temperate climate)
garlic is not for july, but for February, march and april. hope I helped!
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23 Jun 17, Gregory (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can garlic be plant in northern cape
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21 Jun 17, Johan Fernandes (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Witch cultivar (name) is the most popular one to plant? Where can i find cloves? Is Febr - March the wright time to plant? Can i buy cloves from the fresh market?
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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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