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 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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Hi, we have been growing garlic now for 5 years on a pretty small scale, about 1 acre. Have been to field days, read literature & spent too many hours looking on the net. This has to be one of the most frustrating things I have ever been involved with. Some say it is swamp plant & you can't over water, others say to let them dry out a few times as it encourages growth. Heaps of fertilizer, very little fertilizer, sandy soil is best, loam is best etc. etc. Like an earlier post let the bulb tell you, ha ha. But it is true. For our purple garlic plant in March April with mild fertilizer, we use blood & bone. We water as you would any other plant, use a moisture meter or stick you fingers in the soil to see how dry/wet it is. Occasionally top dress with b&b. Pull one out every few weeks & see what it says. One thing that is common to all advice is to not water for the last 3-4 weeks (noted when the leaves start to turn yellow & die off) as this will produce a very slimy skin not easy to work with & hard to stop rot. Again pull one up & have a look at what it's doing, it will let you know same as a citrus, potato or anything else. Just takes time to get to know it. Hope this adds to the confusion, I know I still am.

- John

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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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