Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      P P P            

(Best months for growing Garlic in Australia - tropical regions)

  • P = Plant cloves
  • 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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19 Mar 19, Patricia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My name is Patricia Could you please tell me where can I buy organic garlic to plant And at what time of the year I need to plant the garlic We have a lot of frost the winters here at Macclesfield Australia Are very cold Will wait for your reply
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02 May 19, Ted (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can buy on line @ . They have all types and strains and most are in stock now ready to plant and the web site is very informative. Regards
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26 Mar 19, Sally (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, you can get organic garlic now from Green Harvest: greenharvest.com.au They also provide lots of information on growing.
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22 Mar 19, Ruth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Dear Patricia, we live near the Barrington Tops National Park and get quite a bit of frost. we have been growing garlic organically for many year, always planting around eastertime , ours is a hardneck called Tasmanian Purple, here is a very helpful guide for all that is garlic https://www.australiangarlic.net.au/
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12 Mar 19, Paul Riley (Australia - temperate climate)
Where is the best place to source shot garlic cloves in the Riverland and what kind grows best here?
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14 Mar 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do some internet research.
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07 Mar 19, Lucas (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The ones that work best in my region (Brisbane city) are Glen Large. These have been specifically bread to grow well in SE Qld and in the warmer regions. I plant them in raised beds, raised plastic planter boxes from bunnings $20 (about 40cm by 70cm). Keep the cloves in the fridge for about 2-3wks, start planting from late march and finish by early to mid April. Harvest around October.
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07 Mar 19, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
That is a great piece of advice - pity people don't read through the comments here on a particular plant before asking questions.
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18 Mar 19, veronica (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
veronica, yes is great advice, thank you, have tried lots but all failed will give it a go next march. thanks so much
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25 Feb 19, Sharon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The easiest garlic to grow in the subtropics is Russian or elephant garlic. I find I get bigger cloves if I plant a little earlier late say lateApril/early may to give the plants a little more cold growing season Try and buy your seed garlic from a local grower for a locally adapter strain..
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Showing 131 - 140 of 577 comments
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Heres an answer for garlic, I grow about 300 plants a year and get good results with about 90% of the cloves coming in at 5cm in diameter plus. Season. Garlic takes up to 9 months to mature. Plant in autumn, late March to May, harvest November to December. Clove selection. Plant only the largest cloves, at least the size of your top thumb joint, I have big hands so I plant cloves 2- 2.5 cm across. Its easy to eat the biggest and the best, its better to plant the biggest and the best. Spacing. I plant 15 - 18 cloves per square metre, 25cm apart in rows 25 cm apart. With 30 cm + paths between 4 rows. It's easy to crowd them, and the yield in terms of weight may be much the same, but bigger garlic are a lot more fun and much easier to use in the kitchen. Sunlight. Whilst garlic can tolerate low sun during the winter months it needs 8 hours direct sunlight during the early and late growth stages. So lots of clear sky when it's maturing, September onwards. If your nutrition is right, (and soil acidity is right) then water could be the problem. While not much water is needed in winter, the ground should be kept moist through the season, especially in spring. A shallow watering is best the roots don't go down more than 30 cm max. Once to twice week during the maturing season. We cant control the weather, but avoid flooding (and applications of nutirients) during the final few weeks to lessen the chance of fungus attacks and sprouting. Garlic likes a moderate amount of lime (dolomite), you can rely on the recommended amount at least two weeks before planting and once every three years. Maturity. Look for tops fading in colour, a weakening of the stem near the base and a flattening of the top of the bulb when (gently) exposed Thats a lot and there's a lot more. It's a labour of love and a lifetime. And I'm sure others will have other suggestions, this is just a framework of what has worked for me. Planting at the moment actually. Regarding shallots most of the above also applies but Im not much of an authority. Shorter season length, but most of the above applies. I plant under the same conditions as garlic but only a few dozen and get good results.

- Ken WIlson

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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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