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 10°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 12 cm 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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27 Nov 16, Mary (Australia - temperate climate)
Lambrina, I think you'd be wasting your garlic to plant them now at end of year. They need about 7 months to grow and you'll be expecting them to finish their season in Winter - it won't be pretty! For temperate, plant by end April and you'll be harvesting Nov/Dec. I am able to use horse/cow manure on my garlic bed about 4 weeks before planting and the garlic loves it. Had my best garlic harvest 2 days ago. good luck. Mary
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20 Sep 16, Maria (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi I am passionate of growing my own garlic ,this Year is my third Year of growing garlic, I started with a dozen now I have 300 ,I had Good crop last Year but this year I had a bit concern on my garlic, the cloves are splitting and sprouting and growing back, I dont know what to do ,shall I harvest immature or Live until they are mature which I have to wait for another 8 weeks.your advice would be much appreciated .Thank You .
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12 Aug 16, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi RayShort answer - nope. Though there is a school of thought that phases of the moon does impact planting... plant anything that crops above ground during or just before full moon, the opposite for root crops. Think of the influence the moon has on the oceans (tides) and you're on the right track. Personally it's a little too far for me ( in every sense).
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05 Aug 16, ray (Australia - tropical climate)
Is it true you must plant garlic during the time of a full moon, would be interested to hear any comment. Thanks in advance. Ray
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09 May 16, Anna Lasiuk (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi ,is it ok to plant purple garlic in a pot? Also do I need to keep it protected from frost and what should I feed it? We live in South Hobart Tasmania and the soil is clay Thank you Anna
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01 May 16, Glennis Leary (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow garlic in Kununurra WA and what variety ios most suitable. Thanks
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26 Apr 16, Rosa (Australia - temperate climate)
I have not had much success with growing garlic, last year they when harvested most of them were rotten. So how much water does it need? If planted in the some rectangular bed with beans or peas how far should it be? Thanks
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07 Nov 16, Robyn (Australia - temperate climate)
Rosa, the article states not to grow with beans maybe that is why you are having trouble growing garlic
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05 Oct 16, Jayne (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes I am having the same problem this year
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26 Apr 16, Vincent (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
Hi. Thanks for the information. I have grown garlic on raised beds, and the plants look fine. I want to know if they will withstand a tropical sun or I will have to shield them with a sunscreen. Plants are a month old, and the weather is on the shift from 5he rainy humid season to the dry and sunny season.
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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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