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

25 Dec 13, hardus (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
where can i find garlic seeds for about 0,5ha, and how many seeds would i need for 0;5 ha. My tamotoes is already planted, 600 mm apart under drip irrigation, and i want to plant the garlic end of january, between or next to the tamato plants, will this work? Any suggestions or tips to follow on planting garlic will be highly appreciated
12 Dec 13, (Australia - tropical climate)
Try Russian/Elephant Garlic. Not a true Garlic but member of the leek family. Milder flavour than stadard Garlic. Here in Noosa Hinterland planted in March produces huge bulbs ( for 3 years now). Just harvested this year crop. On-line suppliers tend to run out of stock quickly best to register an interest and receive an e,mail when available. Good Luck...Mel
27 Nov 13, sandy O'Brien (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
beautiful huge flowers on garlic, when do i harvest ?
21 Nov 13, jo (Australia - temperate climate)
hi all, My Garlic (planted in late may) is throwing out flower stems which I keep snapping off, hoping that it will redirect energy into making big fat bulbs - is this the right thing to do ? when do I harvest it ? thanks Jo
27 Apr 14, Jo (Australia - temperate climate)
It is not entirely necessary to snap off the flower stems - called scapes - some people do as they claim it makes the garlic store longer, others think it makes no difference. Either way, they are delicious eating, toss them in a stir fry, or stem them and eat like a vegetable with a dob of butter. The garlic flavour mellows out well when cooked!
09 Nov 13, Karen (Australia - temperate climate)
I have always grown my garlic from bulbs. Can you tell me if there is also good success rate growing from seed? If I collect the seed what time of year would you start to germinate.
18 Nov 13, Bill (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
It is really hard growing from seed. You should not try it. You should leave it to the experts who know what they are doing. Thanks
08 Nov 13, joseph mastropaolo (Australia - tropical climate)
I live in north qld where tempretures get quit warm is there a variaty that will grow in hotter climate. We do not get a lot of cold weather also. I am growing some garlic this year but it seems to only be growing one bulb and not making clover
30 Oct 13, Susie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can you tell me about the tiny, hard growths forming on the outside of the garlic bulbs just harvested? They seem to be the beginnings of new bulbs attaching to the existing bulbs.
19 Oct 13, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Garlic cloves were planted late March early April due the very wet soil. Location Killivan Qld . Wondering why No flowers have appeared yet. Usually harvest in November.
Showing 601 - 610 of 908 comments

Maybe try shallots - easy to grow and can grow most of the year.

- Mike

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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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