Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P           P P    

(Best months for growing Garlic in USA - Zone 7b regions)

  • P = Plant cloves
  • 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

25 Aug 17, Nico (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to know in very dry and hot climates will garlic produce if irrigated and how much water does a garlic plant needs
23 Aug 17, Lois (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I grow garlic near Mooi River in the Natal Midland [ Dec and Jan ave temps 27 deg and 26 deg C] We have frost in winter. Coldest month is June [ave temp 14 deg C] Should it be grown in tunnels or would shade houses suffice? We sometimes experience hail storms. ]
17 Jul 17, Soola Thoo (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can I put garlic gloves into soil in July/august and still be able to get harvest?
08 Jul 17, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Is possible to grow Galic along RichardsbBay area.If possible at what time of the year.What type of soil is the best to grow it
12 Jul 17, Man (Australia - temperate climate)
garlic is not for july, but for February, march and april. hope I helped!
23 Jun 17, Gregory (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can garlic be plant in northern cape
21 Jun 17, Johan Fernandes (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Witch cultivar (name) is the most popular one to plant? Where can i find cloves? Is Febr - March the wright time to plant? Can i buy cloves from the fresh market?
17 Jun 17, Beverly Hartman (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where in SA can garlic bulbs for planting be bought in bulk?
12 Jun 17, Jan van der Merwe (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi I am farming in Montagu western cape. Can someone please advise me whether garlic could be grown in this area and if so can i still plant for the curent season.
24 Apr 17, Kobus (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I'm a blind person and want to plant garlic. I'm looking for as much info as possible on the cultivation of garlic, but it looks like I'm at a dead-end. I found an address on the web, but they just don't answer my mails. Where can I get information please?
Showing 61 - 70 of 163 comments

my Zone 10A garlic, all in rectangular containers 24" length x 7.5" width, x 6.5" height, is sprouting well also, with some shoots up to about two inches. I had several garlic bulbs I intentionally kept in my refrigerator for a couple months, divided them into cloves, peeled them to avoid mold and decay, and kept the separated cloves open to the light at room temperature until they started sprouting. When the majority had tiny green shoots, I selected the best cloves (solid, no spongy or discolored parts) and planted them shallow with the very top of the clove showing as per advice from an internet container gardening site. I am really being careful not to overwater and it looks like all the cloves sprouted green shoots, but after a couple weeks I did have birds pull up maybe eight out of thirty or so of the newly sprouted cloves, so I replanted the missing ones with a more cloves, then added about an inch more soil over the top, and so far the birds have not raided again with the cloves now about two inches deep. Lesson learned: the internet advice for container gardening to plant the cloves with the tip showing is an invitation to be raided by birds. Solution: plant deeper, maybe two inches below the soil surface, even in shallow containers.

- Dave in California Zone 10A

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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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