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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17 Mar 23, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
google .organic shop vegetables. you can pick up 3 organic hard neck for about 10 dollars ... australian red for gold coast or logan ...soak in water , i use worm compost water for 1 night before planting ..
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15 Mar 23, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Buy from a nursery Bunnings Boondie Seeds or on the internet. Plant soon late April to June.
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07 Mar 23, Emma (Australia - tropical climate)
Good afternoon, I am trying to find a supplier for SOFT NECK GARLIC to plant in a home garden not commercial, I live in Far North QLD in the Tablelands (Dambulla). Would like some information as to time to plant or any other types of GARLIC that would grow well here. Thanking you in advance!
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10 Mar 23, Rod (Australia - temperate climate)
Emma, try Tasmanian gourmet garlic. They sell to people up here like us. If you're in Danbullah you are probably subtropical or temperate (like us at Lake Eacham). They have some great information on their website as well. Start of May is the time to plant, depending on how wet it is.
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21 Mar 23, Emma Vela (Australia - tropical climate)
Thank you ROD from Lake Eacham for your information, cheers.
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02 Mar 23, Aggie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi live in South Australia when is the best time to plant my Garlic
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03 Mar 23, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Check the guide in the garlic section for your climate.
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02 Mar 23, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
new to growing garlic. do I fertilise the soil prior or is it not necessary ? thank you =)
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03 Mar 23, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Depends on the quality of your soil now. If fairly rich no need for it. Or let them grow to say 15cm and if looking a bit weak give some fertiliser. A clinched handfull to 8-10l of water.
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29 Jan 23, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i am getting my beds ready for my garlic crop .i live on the gold coast Queensland .i will be planting first week of march .i am after glen large garlic .has anyone have any idea whare i can pick some up without the postage costs ...
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Hi, we have been growing garlic now for 5 years on a pretty small scale, about 1 acre. Have been to field days, read literature & spent too many hours looking on the net. This has to be one of the most frustrating things I have ever been involved with. Some say it is swamp plant & you can't over water, others say to let them dry out a few times as it encourages growth. Heaps of fertilizer, very little fertilizer, sandy soil is best, loam is best etc. etc. Like an earlier post let the bulb tell you, ha ha. But it is true. For our purple garlic plant in March April with mild fertilizer, we use blood & bone. We water as you would any other plant, use a moisture meter or stick you fingers in the soil to see how dry/wet it is. Occasionally top dress with b&b. Pull one out every few weeks & see what it says. One thing that is common to all advice is to not water for the last 3-4 weeks (noted when the leaves start to turn yellow & die off) as this will produce a very slimy skin not easy to work with & hard to stop rot. Again pull one up & have a look at what it's doing, it will let you know same as a citrus, potato or anything else. Just takes time to get to know it. Hope this adds to the confusion, I know I still am.

- John

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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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