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03 Jan 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)

This is a transcript of a article on growing garlic in central Australia (desert). It is on ABC Rural News and may be a help to you. Trials reveal potential for garlic-growing in Northern Territory Posted 7 Oct 2016 MAP: Alice Springs 0870 A trial exploring the capabilities of seven garlic varieties in the red centre is showing some early positive results. Seven varieties of garlic are being trialled at the Northern Territory's Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI), alongside the standard industry garlic variety, Glen Large. The Alice Springs environment will demonstrate how varieties that have never been grown commercially in the Northern Territory respond to extreme cold and extreme heat. Central Australian Horticulture Development Project manager and researcher Stuart Smith said despite challenges such as poor water quality, the results so far had been positive. "We're hoping, because we're just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, we're just a bit a little subtropical, that we're in the right area," he said. "We've got the right heat profile, right day length and we're able to grow some good bulbs. "If it'll grow here, it'll grow anywhere. "Central Australia is a bit isolated from the rest of Australia so it doesn't have the pests and diseases of the other garlic-growing areas." Plan to get garlic onto market early in season Mr Smith believes there is a market opportunity for garlic that grows early in the traditional growing season. We thought we could get a few varieties to come early on the market, so we can get some good prices for them and replace the imported garlic," he said. The first successful harvested trial crop has reached a stage of maturity that would be ready for market. "It's got a code name called AF. We're getting some good-sized bulbs out of this," Mr Smith said. "I estimate we're getting 6-8 tonnes per hectare." The DPI's Stuart Smith and agriculture minister Ken Vowles stand in a field of garlic PHOTO: Stuart Smith and Primary Industries Minister Ken Vowles discuss the garlic crop trial near Alice Springs. (ABC Rural: Katrina Beaven) Mr Smith said the early trial results were encouraging despite poor water quality and salty soils. "We have to keep watering them pretty constantly to keep moving the salt out of the root zone," he said. "The water we're using at AZRI is pretty low quality. "Most of the water other people are using in horticulture around the Central Australian region is a lot better quality than this." Mr Smith said the research results would also add value to what was being learned by a grower at Orange Creek Station, south of Alice Springs, who is conducting a commercial garlic trial this year.

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18 Nov 16, Elsanne (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

I do know about the actual March planting, but want to know if I coud still, maybe, plant now.... (November)? I just bought 2kg of purple garlic! It seems that the shop garlic starts sprouting quickly and then just disintegrate before March. We are between Murraysburg and Graaff-Reinet and generally 5°C Cooler thant GRT!

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25 Jul 16, Pam (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

I am in gauteng - can I still plant garlic in July?

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24 Aug 16, Shahn (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

It's not really worth the effort. They should grow, but will form very small bulbs.

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26 Jun 16, kevin wang (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

Our question is how to enlarge of cultivation?

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13 Jun 16, Kobus Alberts (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

I'm unemployed and want to know if I can plant garlic and other herbs in my home garden for selling?

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01 Oct 16, May (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

If you're planning to sell fresh produce at maybe a market or to restaurants, it would be better (faster) to start with veggies that mature faster, like lettuce and radishes. Garlic takes a long time to mature and they cannot be grown successfully for continued harvest throughout the year. I'd start with lettuce especially, because they can grow and produce for most of the year and restaurants use them daily... Also maybe basil, because it is a popular herb that is bought fresh frequently. When you have that going, you can start with tomatoes, which take a bit longer to harvest, but they are easy to propagate and always in demand. Plan properly and focus on something that is simple, quick and for which you have a market close to home, figure out how to do that well and produce enough to start generating income and you can build it up from there. Good luck! :)

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07 Jun 16, Mandlate (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

I will like to grow garlic in Mozambique or Mpumalanga Nelspruit.

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08 Aug 21, Abdullah imad Abdullah alzoubi (Australia - arid climate)

Please did u plant in Mozambique and If yes can u tell if it's possible

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19 May 16, Soola Thoo (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)

I live in Ficksburg in the Free State and would like to grow a garlic garden. When is the best time for me to put into soil and is it advisable to get garlic from our grocery shop?

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