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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23 May 14, John (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown garlic a few times but am disappointed with the size of the cloves that I get. Do the plants need to have regular watering (ie keep moist) and do they need to be fertilized regularly. What type of fertilizer is best for garlic. My cloves are about half the size of commercial garlic.
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01 Jun 14, Barry (Australia - temperate climate)
No John, This is just a reflection of poor soil. I recommend digging up all of your soil and removing it. Then replace it with quality soil. I had this problem and now my garlic balls are huge.
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18 May 14, Mel (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I live coastal sydney and decided to plant some garlic I bought online in styraohoam boxes so far 3 weeks later they have not sprouted it been a bit wet but I prepared the soil with compost potting mix dynamic lifter and sheep manure so thought my soil would be suitable does anyone have any idea what went wrong
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02 Jun 14, Alex (Australia - temperate climate)
hi Mel, I did the same - bulbs in styrofoam boxes. I don't remember how long they took but it was a while, I had given up on them when suddenly some beautiful green shoots came up :) Give yours a bit longer, you might get a nice surprise :)
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18 Jun 14, Mel (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Thank You! and you were right. A little impatient I think, they finally came through and are now going strong. The only thing is in my panic I planted more in between and now they are a bit crowded but oh well all a learning curve I guess :)
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17 May 14, Tom (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
where in south africa can i find a reliable supplier of garlic seeds for commercial growing..
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01 Oct 14, S (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Try Garlic Growers Association South Africa. www.garlicgrowers.co.za
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12 May 14, Jose Alvares (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I planted garlic in March The 3th how long do I need to pick it Johannesburg
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13 May 14, Jo (Australia - temperate climate)
Harvest garlic in early summer, when the lower leaves have turned yellow and die off. You can dig down gently along side the plants to check if they have formed bulbs before you pull them up.
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03 May 14, mick (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in the Sydney area on the coast and would love to grow garlic. I have never had much success and would like to know what variety is best suited to this area so that I can try again. Anybody growing in the region who can suggest the right variety? Thanks.
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Thanks for the tip on shortest / longest day stuff. How do you distinguish between a soft and hard neck? I looked up a website and all they had was a white bulb and a light purple bulb.

- Anonymous

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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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