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 Australia - tropical 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

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03 Sep 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have read plant around the shortest daylight hours day - 21st June - harvest around 21st Dec. I would think garlic would not require a lot of fertilising. You are trying to produce bulbs not a huge green top - so don't go overboard on the N. Start with a good fertile soil and maybe a top up after 3 mths - light on the N. A general veg fert would do at planting. Or compost or manures etc. Do some internet research about growing it.
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02 Sep 19, anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would suggest you google
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20 Aug 19, El Perro Loco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Garlic - Brisbane - Sub-tropical. Due to circumstances I planted garlic very late April. 60 cloves and a brilliant strike. Now - I have a sparse scattering of remaining plants. The majority got to about 200 mm (6 inches) high then just turned yellow and died. The remaining ones (probably 10) are as healthy as, look like I will get some great cloves and are spread across the garden in no discernible pattern. Any suggestions of hints?
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22 Aug 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you look at the planting calendar at the top of the page - plant May June July. There is an old saying plant on the shortest day of the year and harvest the longest day. Hours of daylight that is. Yellow plants may mean lacking N. You may have over or under watered them.
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18 Jul 19, Maria (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow Garlic in Cairns Qld. And if so, what is best type and when to plant?
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19 Jul 19, (Australia - tropical climate)
Pay attention to the top of the page - it tells you whether you can grow it and when to plant in your climate zone - that is what this web site is for - self help. Look up the internet to see what varieties grow best in the tropics or just plant some and see what happens.
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13 Jul 19, Sam (Australia - temperate climate)
It's mid July and my garlic for planting only just arrived... I am in Canberra. Is it a waste to try planting them now? It's still very cold here for another month at least.
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15 Jul 19, (Australia - temperate climate)
They should do alright - maybe not so big a bulb. Read the notes and plant earlier next year.
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14 Jun 19, James Agius (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks for the advise james
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13 Jun 19, Michael Archer (Australia - temperate climate)
Well, I thought that the little clove of garlic that I plucked 2 weeks ago was a bit odd, but today 13th June another fully matured single clove. Planted in early March . The rest look good and on time I think
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Showing 111 - 120 of 577 comments
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Heres an answer for garlic, I grow about 300 plants a year and get good results with about 90% of the cloves coming in at 5cm in diameter plus. Season. Garlic takes up to 9 months to mature. Plant in autumn, late March to May, harvest November to December. Clove selection. Plant only the largest cloves, at least the size of your top thumb joint, I have big hands so I plant cloves 2- 2.5 cm across. Its easy to eat the biggest and the best, its better to plant the biggest and the best. Spacing. I plant 15 - 18 cloves per square metre, 25cm apart in rows 25 cm apart. With 30 cm + paths between 4 rows. It's easy to crowd them, and the yield in terms of weight may be much the same, but bigger garlic are a lot more fun and much easier to use in the kitchen. Sunlight. Whilst garlic can tolerate low sun during the winter months it needs 8 hours direct sunlight during the early and late growth stages. So lots of clear sky when it's maturing, September onwards. If your nutrition is right, (and soil acidity is right) then water could be the problem. While not much water is needed in winter, the ground should be kept moist through the season, especially in spring. A shallow watering is best the roots don't go down more than 30 cm max. Once to twice week during the maturing season. We cant control the weather, but avoid flooding (and applications of nutirients) during the final few weeks to lessen the chance of fungus attacks and sprouting. Garlic likes a moderate amount of lime (dolomite), you can rely on the recommended amount at least two weeks before planting and once every three years. Maturity. Look for tops fading in colour, a weakening of the stem near the base and a flattening of the top of the bulb when (gently) exposed Thats a lot and there's a lot more. It's a labour of love and a lifetime. And I'm sure others will have other suggestions, this is just a framework of what has worked for me. Planting at the moment actually. Regarding shallots most of the above also applies but Im not much of an authority. Shorter season length, but most of the above applies. I plant under the same conditions as garlic but only a few dozen and get good results.

- Ken WIlson

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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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