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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13 Jul 18, Julie hall (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Where iam at the moment it get verry cold and forsty in the morning I know it.s may be a bit late to plant garlic but will it still be ok to plant it now or preferably when the frost almost over towards modd August i think ingoulburn Unless the cloves are not effected by the frost
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16 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
For cool/mountain it say plant Apr/May so you are too late. If you plant now the crop may fail. You could try - wouldn't plant too many though.
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16 Jul 18, Ray S (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You could certainly try planting now, the sooner the better because garlic needs to go through the cold to get a decent size to it. The plants are totally unaffected by frosts down to at least -12°C which is what we get here in July. Just for your information, I usually plant garlic late March for a November harvest. In Goulburn you could probably wait until April/May. Good luck with it.
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17 Jul 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
A saying - plant the shortest day of the year and harvest the longest day. 21st June - 21st Dec.
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15 Jun 18, Jeff Hann (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
During the garlic growing period. What fertiliser, how often & how much to use, please.
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16 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
If you started with good rich soil then you don't need to add more fert. Any all round fert will do. 10-14 N 4-8 P 10-14K @ 2-3 teaspoons per 9 L of water. Or use an organic fert at the recommended rate.
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15 May 18, Jodie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Can garlic grow in pots
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16 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Garlic has fairly shallow roots, but it is important to make sure they have plenty of room to stretch out in the soil. Choose a pot that is at least 18 inches deep and 12 inches wide. Half barrels and wooden crates work well, but you certainly do not need to buy a container for your garlic. The large black plastic containers that trees come in are a great choice, as are contractor buckets. Whatever container you use, make sure that it has drainage holes in the bottom. Place the container in a spot that gets at least 6 hours of bright, direct sunlight each day. Research on the internet.
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11 May 18, Tom Court (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi i have just recieved some garlic seed from China what is the best time to plant the seeds. I live at Napperby up north from Adelaide, about 17 km east of Port Pirie. Cheers Tom Court.
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14 May 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Seeds or bulbs. Never grown garlic but I would grow it from the bulbs - a lot quicker I think. Go on the internet and read up about it. They had a good TV show on garlic last weekend on ABC Gardening Australia. Check their website - probably a video of it. A saying plant shortest day of year and harvest longest day of the year.
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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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