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

01 Jul 09, Al (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is garlic a good companion plant for potatotes? Or should potatoes grow in their own space?
23 Jun 09, Garry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The aussie garlic seems to grow well in Coraki.Nth NSW.
08 Jun 09, potato queen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
aussie Garlic season starts again in Aug/Sept. Aussie garlic has small cloves unless you buy the Russian (elephant) garlic (still Aussie) which is related to leeks. Chinese garlic looks better because it has been bleached and sprayed with a sprout deterent (which is why you wont grow cloves from Chinese garlic only green shoots). Aussie garlic is better for you & supports our ecomony (it is expensive because we only grow 10% of the garlic we use , our farmers are not subsidised and can charge for the good quality they produce).
29 May 09, Tricia (Australia - temperate climate)
I want to plant some garlic, but Im really confused as to what type! I have bought some local garlic as well as chinese, the chinese cloves look so much better and the local is very small! help!! can someone tell me the difference between them apart from looks?
26 May 09, patsy (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just put in my cloves but this time in large pots where tomatoes have just finished up. Soil was well fertilised home made from compost with added magnesium. Cloves are Australian as the Chinese are apparently bleached. Looking forward to great garlic, fingers crossed. Good for the chooks too. Natural wormer:)
20 May 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
Kembo: Power feed? something like seaweed solution? If so then you are wasting money! To make strong garlic water less frequently, when the cloves start to form let the plant dry out a couple of times. Not sure why you would want to though? Wet sweet garlic straight from the garden is superb.
18 May 09, Sandy (Australia - temperate climate)
I may be moving house shortly, but would still like a crop of garlic this year. Can I plant garlic in pots, so I can take the plants with me? Selfishly, I don't want to leave them for the next occupants! Thanks.
11 May 09, kembo (Australia - temperate climate)
Have planted a few cloves of garlic and they're sprouting nicely but wondering what else they need in the way of fertilizer. We power feed every 3 or so days and water regularly. Soils pretty good. We want to make sure they're good and pungent when they're ready to eat, any hints?
04 May 09, Barb Burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have planted 2500 garlic cloves in prepared raised ( well drained soil) with lots of grass mulch . 4weeks later little shoots appearing daily. Needs warm sun and plenty rain.Good luck.
19 Apr 09, kembo (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks for all the tips, haven't tried garlic but we love it so we're looking forward to growing our own :)
Showing 491 - 500 of 577 comments

I have just purchased some garlic which is sprouting shoots. As it is december in Brisbane, is there any point in planting these cloves?

- Keith Moses

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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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