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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21 Jun 15, Brian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Wendy, Just wait until the tops die off and harvest. Leave them there and the bulbs will just multiply and shoot next year but be very small. If you want, just keep a couple of the bulbs to put back in. I just go to the local roadside market and get new bulbs starting to shoot and plant them each year. Got about 20 this year for $2.00
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02 Jun 15, Thomas tan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What fertiliser is best for garlic
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13 Jul 15, Gilberte (Australia - temperate climate)
Compost tea compost tea can be made from your compost. Compost: 1 layer of straw 1 layer of greens (alfalfa, lucern ....)or kitchen scraps sprinkle of wood chips sprinkle of soil sprinkle of cow or other manure sparingly sprinkle with water mixed with two tablespoons of unsulfured molasses and then start the layers all over again until the bail of straw is finished. Cover with black plastic. After 4 days turn compostheap and then every 2 days until no warmth is felt. Fill a bag with the compost and hang it in a drum with water. Either blow air into the water with an airpump or turn the water with a stick so it shapes a vortex. Do this several times during the day. You will have enough organic fertilizer from one compost heap for about a season. (sprinkle your garden vegetables every week or 2 weeks). Always keep your compost heap covered. If you have leafy vegies add a little bit of seaweed concentrate. Do not give sea weed concentrate to your fruiting vegies eg tomatoes, capsicum etc as it will encourage folliage but not the fruit.
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23 Apr 15, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I WANT TO GROW GARLIC IN NORTHERN BOTSWANA . WHEN CAN I START GROWING THE CLOVES AND WHERE DO I GET QUALITY CLOVES?
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21 Apr 15, july (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to buy a garlic seeds or bulbs and how do I go about it?
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13 Apr 15, frank (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I believe that of the 100 or so types of garlic only a few are suitable for colder regions, Could you please advise which ones? Thank you.
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30 Nov 15, John Boundy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
we have had 5 or six years growing in Canberra. In past, got an Australian Purple and kept saving the biggest bilbs. last year, added Monaro red from Bredbo, seemed ok not as large but we had a dog fight on the bed and stuff was squashed early. This year, sowed Diggers club 4 varieties as well as Monaro red. Just starting to harvest. The (free) diggers biofresh ok (thought we were getting Melbourne Market but they substituted) Good size bulbs for first year. Haven't harvested the rest, will repost in a week or so. In summary, any variety seems OK in Canberra, although the softnecks collapse early
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29 Mar 15, faried (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to start in northen cape kuruman very hot summer and harsh winnter. Would like to put them under shady net
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29 Mar 15, Wessel Otto (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can you please give me a webpage, with every details about garlic, type of fertilizer very important. What about chicken compost, is it enough. Thanks
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22 Mar 15, Joe Viscione (Australia - temperate climate)
how to prepare plot for garlic, and what firtelise is needed
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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)

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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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