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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15 Apr 16, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes, you can Barbara, .... for extra bulbs I have always planted about extra cloves, and found that 6 cloves planted into a large HDPE pot the largest I have are 420 mm 42 cm wide, and with mulch over the top and a good base of a mix of animal manures all goes well. We are in our cool climate though....good especially if people are renting OR planning on moving within the year... Happy gardening Jen cool climate
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12 Apr 16, Cassie (Australia - arid climate)
Noooo Gearge! The rough bottom is the root plate where the clove will grow new roots from so it won't help to damage it.
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08 Apr 16, George (Australia - temperate climate)
Does it help speed up growth from the seed if the firm base is roughened up of cut off?
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23 Mar 16, Lesley Wickham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is it important to grow garlic in fresh ground each year or can I use the same bed as last time?
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26 Mar 16, Len. (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow garlic in the same spot. Before planting each year, I add compost and a small amount of well rotted animal manure. Mix it in well and to date have had very good results.
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24 Mar 16, Alan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lesley, Garlic has a very long growing season (longest day to shortest day) so we prefer not to grow it in our normal garden beds since it invariably gets in the way of further plantings so we plant them all around the ornamentals in the front garden as a border & we do this year after year without effecting the yield or quality. Regards, Al.
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18 Mar 16, Jessica (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, Im a first time garlic grower, and I wanted to find out if I should be putting in sticks or something to keep the leaves straight up? Or can they just bend over the pot with out issues?
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26 Mar 16, tony (Australia - temperate climate)
I have been growing garlic for a few years now and I just let them do what they want to do...
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13 Mar 16, debbie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
the best way to firtilising carlic
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17 Mar 16, Bee-Pie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Nitrogen. Add well rotted cow manure as a side dressing if you've already planted your garlic. When cow manure isn't available to me, I use Comfrey or worm tea.
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Maybe try shallots - easy to grow and can grow most of the year.

- Mike

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