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 South Africa - Semi-arid 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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28 Sep 13, Chantel Fourie (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
You can order online from Livingseeds.co.za
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03 Nov 13, Shumani (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I have loose garlic cloves for sale. Where can I sell these?
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16 May 13, chanel (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
We live in Kokstad which is perfect for the garlic, cold, dry, snow etc. Can anyone tell me if i would need to maltch the garlic, (it gets freezing and snows here) Boarder EC & KZN My first time and the shoots are doing very well!! Thanks appreciate feedback.
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21 Apr 13, Violet (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
My garlic has been in pots for 6 months. How do I know when to harvest. Does the stem have to turn brown. I live in the Southern Cape
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06 Apr 13, joseph morris (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
can you use cloves bought from supermarket as seed and how do youknow when seed is ready. where would one get seed i live in port st johns eastern cape
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09 Mar 13, Kelly (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
www.garlicgrowers.co.za
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24 Feb 13, Mah Kib (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Which type is best for Uganda, when is the best planting period, and when to harvest it? Also, is it possible to have 2 planting seasons in a single year?
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02 Feb 13, Sibusiso Mkhize (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have a 2 hector piece of land at Umbumbulu area that I would like to grow galic commecialy. I would like to know if there are organisations that can assist me with training, finance and markets?
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20 Jan 13, paul wight (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can one plant garilic in stellenbosch with sucsess and is worth while
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08 Jan 13, Paul Jonas (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to know how many plants of Garlic can you grow in hacter, and also to know how tonnes of Garlic can you harvest and also to know the approximate cost of the yeild
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Showing 151 - 160 of 163 comments
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I generally have garlic in my compost -- little bits that have maybe rotted a bit, and I can't even imagine how they grow -- but anyhow ---- I dig kitchen scraps directly into the garden over winter. Winter here gets down to about -10c for short periods of time (several nights in a row, for half a dozen hours at a time) -- generally winter temps are closer to -3c at night. Anyhow, come spring the areas where I have dug in kitchen scraps directly into the garden are usually sprouting : potatoes and garlic (among other things). So despite that I am actually planting garlic in winter, it will not grow until spring. I also grow garlic via the two year method (collecting seeds called bulbils - planting them immediately upon collection (so fall) )-- they grow in spring -- and then next year, they grow the garlic. Depending on the TYPE of garlic you are growing you can get 60 or more bulbils from one flower -- so this is economical if you have the SPACE. Again, the garlic is overwintered directly in the garden. In my area/zone, you have to yank out garlic if you don't want it -- because it just seems to grow and grow (same thing with fuchsia and potatoes).

- Celeste Archer

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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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