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

21 Jun 15, Brian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Wendy, Just wait until the tops die off and harvest. Leave them there and the bulbs will just multiply and shoot next year but be very small. If you want, just keep a couple of the bulbs to put back in. I just go to the local roadside market and get new bulbs starting to shoot and plant them each year. Got about 20 this year for $2.00
02 Jun 15, Thomas tan (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
What fertiliser is best for garlic
13 Jul 15, Gilberte (Australia - temperate climate)
Compost tea compost tea can be made from your compost. Compost: 1 layer of straw 1 layer of greens (alfalfa, lucern ....)or kitchen scraps sprinkle of wood chips sprinkle of soil sprinkle of cow or other manure sparingly sprinkle with water mixed with two tablespoons of unsulfured molasses and then start the layers all over again until the bail of straw is finished. Cover with black plastic. After 4 days turn compostheap and then every 2 days until no warmth is felt. Fill a bag with the compost and hang it in a drum with water. Either blow air into the water with an airpump or turn the water with a stick so it shapes a vortex. Do this several times during the day. You will have enough organic fertilizer from one compost heap for about a season. (sprinkle your garden vegetables every week or 2 weeks). Always keep your compost heap covered. If you have leafy vegies add a little bit of seaweed concentrate. Do not give sea weed concentrate to your fruiting vegies eg tomatoes, capsicum etc as it will encourage folliage but not the fruit.
13 Apr 15, frank (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I believe that of the 100 or so types of garlic only a few are suitable for colder regions, Could you please advise which ones? Thank you.
30 Nov 15, John Boundy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
we have had 5 or six years growing in Canberra. In past, got an Australian Purple and kept saving the biggest bilbs. last year, added Monaro red from Bredbo, seemed ok not as large but we had a dog fight on the bed and stuff was squashed early. This year, sowed Diggers club 4 varieties as well as Monaro red. Just starting to harvest. The (free) diggers biofresh ok (thought we were getting Melbourne Market but they substituted) Good size bulbs for first year. Haven't harvested the rest, will repost in a week or so. In summary, any variety seems OK in Canberra, although the softnecks collapse early
22 Mar 15, Joe Viscione (Australia - temperate climate)
how to prepare plot for garlic, and what firtelise is needed
03 Apr 15, Tony Grossetti (Australia - temperate climate)
Joe, good old fashion chicken manure or dynamic lifter is what I use. Spread on top of the soil where you intend to plant then turn over soil well and water in. Garlic will need a sunny spot to mature to large size. Do this a few weeks before planting. Plant garlic and water in well. Once the garlic starts to shoot use a soluable fertilizer every 2-3 weeks (maybe once a month in winter). Hope it works out for you.
07 Feb 15, Moses Opoo (Australia - tropical climate)
Hello, I live in Eastern Uganda with very harsh weather. What type of garlic can I plant here reflecting on the weather.
10 Apr 15, Amanda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Moses, I came across information about a man growing garlic in Uganda. Maybe you can find him for some help on how to grow garlic. He is known as Dr Twaha Kakooza and is a resident of Bubajjwe village, Kayunga sub-county, in Kayunga district. He is the proprietor of Shatwa Mixed Farm located in the same area & also doctor of herbal medicine. Regards, Amanda.
08 Dec 14, Uraj (USA - Zone 13a climate)
Is there a garlic that will grow in the tropic, if so I will like to try it.Where can I obtain these garlic. I live in Guyana South America.
Showing 271 - 280 of 577 comments

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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