Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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

(Best months for growing Garlic in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • P = Plant cloves
  • 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

10 May 11, Adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
One other company for great Garlic is garlicworld.com. They are based in Port Campbell in Victoria, Simon and his wife.I got some lovely Californis purple from them. Not sure if they'd have any left now. A couple of years ago, I got some Purple garlic which came from Chile. I really don't like to buy out of area stuff, but I figured it would be a one off, and haven't bought much since, except for the garlicworld stuff. Melanie, the garlic is ready when the top wilts and leans over, as Jen has said. Sometimes, the plant goes into flowering mode, but usually not, usually it just falls over. The stem that falls is the bit you use to tie it up with, so if you let it die too much, you won't get the protective outer skin, or something to plait it with. I tend to wait until it looks a bit ratty, but hasn't died completely, about a week or so after it keels over. Then I dig it up, don't pull it from the stem, I learned that lesson the first year.!! Hope this helps.
02 May 11, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi melanie, Garlic is usally ready to harvest when the stalks brown off and lean over. If you are desperate for some fresh garlic you can harvest a bulb earlier but must put up with the bulb being smaler.... good luck ..it gets easier with every year
20 Apr 11, Bill (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Another source of organic garlic is Kookaburra Organics(google the name). They are based on the Sunshine Coast (Maleny/Conondale) in Queensland. We've just bought some from them for planting for the first time. They seemed very knowledgeable and definately very helpful.
19 Apr 11, Garry (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have been growing my own Garlic for years..i got the first bulb from woollies..since then never had to buy any.
10 Apr 11, Melanie (Australia - temperate climate)
I've seen varying information on when to harvest garlic - some say let it flower, other advice says not to let it flower. Does anyone know which is correct?
14 Apr 11, elfrieda (Australia - tropical climate)
i have heard that is best to harvest after the flowering when the stem dries up, similar to onions.
03 Apr 11, Zora singh (Australia - arid climate)
Where from one can purchase the australian garlic varieties for planting in this season
04 Apr 11, Alexis (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Zora - The Digger's Club sells garlic for planting (www.diggers.com.au), but it's not cheap, especially if you're not a club member.
25 Mar 11, Dallas (Australia - tropical climate)
like coriander they thrive next to other plants, companions
19 Mar 11, Gen (Australia - tropical climate)
Will My Garlic Grow? I am in Venezuela. Normally its 25C peaking at 35C and we go between humid and soggy. I planted a bunch of garlic cloves that had already sprouted in containers on my balcony. They get a half day of direct sun and I'm watering them about every day and a half (when the soil looks dry, before the other herbs wilt) After 2 weeks they all have 5 - 10 cm growth, two have leaves that look grass like the other 5 look sprouty still (they have one twisty stalk thing that hasn't quite separated into leaves ) Should I persist with my garlic or should I rip it out and put in something that has half a chance? It was just an impulse plant when I realized that I had a clove that had sprouted so no big loss if they are a disaster, but I would feel like a super gardener if I could make something other than mint and basil grow.
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