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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24 Apr 18, Daniel Barresi (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Has anyone used a weedecide such as roundup prior to garlic emerging?
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25 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The roundup would have to come in contact with the leaves of the garlic to do it any damage.
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10 Jun 18, Sensible (Australia - temperate climate)
Who in their right mind would use poison in the vicinity of where they are growing food?
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20 Mar 18, tessa (Australia - temperate climate)
Silly question really. Can we eat russian garlic. A friend gave me some and am wondering if it is edible
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20 Mar 18, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes, they are edible. They have a milder flavour than most garlic. If you have plenty you can eat the stems like leeks too. Don't pull them, just cut at ground level and they will regrow.
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06 Mar 18, Pamela Honey (Australia - temperate climate)
When do we plant garlic in Moree NSW 2400
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26 Sep 18, Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Pam. I live in a temperate zone on the mid north coast and plant garlic around Anzac Day and harvest around armistice day as a general rule of thumb.
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07 Mar 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Read through the information and comments on the Garlic page - Click on the Vegetables and Herbs tab and then Garlic. Set the zone to Temperate Australia at the top of the page.
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24 Feb 18, Leonie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have just discovered your website, wow, it's fantastic!
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17 Jan 18, Monika (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi when it the best time to plant garlic in Qld in a sub-tropical climate .
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Showing 171 - 180 of 577 comments
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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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