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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03 Sep 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have read plant around the shortest daylight hours day - 21st June - harvest around 21st Dec. I would think garlic would not require a lot of fertilising. You are trying to produce bulbs not a huge green top - so don't go overboard on the N. Start with a good fertile soil and maybe a top up after 3 mths - light on the N. A general veg fert would do at planting. Or compost or manures etc. Do some internet research about growing it.
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02 Sep 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would suggest you google
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20 Aug 19, El Perro Loco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Garlic - Brisbane - Sub-tropical. Due to circumstances I planted garlic very late April. 60 cloves and a brilliant strike. Now - I have a sparse scattering of remaining plants. The majority got to about 200 mm (6 inches) high then just turned yellow and died. The remaining ones (probably 10) are as healthy as, look like I will get some great cloves and are spread across the garden in no discernible pattern. Any suggestions of hints?
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22 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you look at the planting calendar at the top of the page - plant May June July. There is an old saying plant on the shortest day of the year and harvest the longest day. Hours of daylight that is. Yellow plants may mean lacking N. You may have over or under watered them.
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18 Jul 19, Maria (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow Garlic in Cairns Qld. And if so, what is best type and when to plant?
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19 Jul 19, (Australia - tropical climate)
Pay attention to the top of the page - it tells you whether you can grow it and when to plant in your climate zone - that is what this web site is for - self help. Look up the internet to see what varieties grow best in the tropics or just plant some and see what happens.
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13 Jul 19, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
It's mid July and my garlic for planting only just arrived... I am in Canberra. Is it a waste to try planting them now? It's still very cold here for another month at least.
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15 Jul 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
They should do alright - maybe not so big a bulb. Read the notes and plant earlier next year.
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14 Jun 19, James Agius (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks for the advise james
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13 Jun 19, Michael Archer (Australia - temperate climate)
Well, I thought that the little clove of garlic that I plucked 2 weeks ago was a bit odd, but today 13th June another fully matured single clove. Planted in early March . The rest look good and on time I think
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Ok In Canberra, due to the late summer season here I have run out of space to plant out my garlic this month. Can you plant them out in seedling trays and transfer them later on? Or as the are a root crop like carrots do they not respond well to transplanting?

- Ian Cummings

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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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