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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16 Apr 16, Jen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would like to know which varieties of garlic are suitable to grow in Brisbane and where I could purchase them. Any advice would be really appreciated.
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02 May 16, Brooke (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Jen, Elephant garlic will grow well. It is not as strong as the other smaller garlics, but you should find success. Be sure to mound up so you can ensure drainage and control water to them. Space 20cm apart in rich soil. Good luck
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01 May 16, Grace (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi Jen, I am from Brisbane and have just planted my garlic. This will be my 3rd year. I bought some organic garlic from the Lawnton Market and kept some from previous years to grow again. I plant it late April/early May and harvest around late Sept/early Oct. I grew the white garlic variety as shown in picutre shown above.
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13 Apr 16, Barbara (Australia - temperate climate)
can you plant garlic in pots?
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15 Apr 16, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes, you can Barbara, .... for extra bulbs I have always planted about extra cloves, and found that 6 cloves planted into a large HDPE pot the largest I have are 420 mm 42 cm wide, and with mulch over the top and a good base of a mix of animal manures all goes well. We are in our cool climate though....good especially if people are renting OR planning on moving within the year... Happy gardening Jen cool climate
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12 Apr 16, Cassie (Australia - arid climate)
Noooo Gearge! The rough bottom is the root plate where the clove will grow new roots from so it won't help to damage it.
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08 Apr 16, George (Australia - temperate climate)
Does it help speed up growth from the seed if the firm base is roughened up of cut off?
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23 Mar 16, Lesley Wickham (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is it important to grow garlic in fresh ground each year or can I use the same bed as last time?
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26 Mar 16, Len. (Australia - temperate climate)
I grow garlic in the same spot. Before planting each year, I add compost and a small amount of well rotted animal manure. Mix it in well and to date have had very good results.
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24 Mar 16, Alan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Lesley, Garlic has a very long growing season (longest day to shortest day) so we prefer not to grow it in our normal garden beds since it invariably gets in the way of further plantings so we plant them all around the ornamentals in the front garden as a border & we do this year after year without effecting the yield or quality. Regards, Al.
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Showing 251 - 260 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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