Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    P P P P P          

(Best months for growing Garlic in Australia - cool/mountain 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 11, (Australia - arid climate)
If you have divided the bulb into cloves, plant in the ground with the pointy end upwards about 10 mm from the surface. Bruce
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11 Jul 11, Kate (Australia - temperate climate)
Trying my first lot of garlic; russian and another darker organic one. Do I need to do anything to the cloves before I plant them?
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01 Jul 11, Cygnetian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I heard an interesting-sounding garlic-growing tip recently (unfortunately just too late for my plantings this year), which was to *not* firm down the soil/compost (or whatever you plant them in) at all, the idea being that the bulbs will grow bigger that way since they *(& their roots, I guess) aren't tightly packed into the growing medium.
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14 Jul 11, sara drummond (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I planted some in June but I aim to put some more in. bought the purple argentinean pack from safeways I know it mid July but I will give them a go today and see what happens in Novemver/December I will take your idea on board to keep the soil cover loose ... having fun in the garden sara
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17 May 11, Greg (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted three varieties of garlic about four weeks ago, including the (large) Russian garlic variety. The other two all came up after about two weeks, but not a single sign of the Russian has come up. Does it normally take longer to come up or have I got a dud batch?
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02 Jun 11, Greg (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks all - you were on the money. They've just started to poke their heads up!
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02 Jun 11, pete (Australia - temperate climate)
eh Greg, I had the same deal. the russians are comming through now after six weeks. Seems a week of frosts spurred them on.
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02 Jun 11, James (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Greg, dont worry about the russian garlic, it will shoot up. Some take a little longer, some come up straight away. Youll find that they really like full sun - if they have shade during the day they will take a little longer to come up. If you have planted the bulbins (little nut like seed) they will probably not show until early spring, cheers
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17 May 11, arthur (Australia - temperate climate)
If you want to grow imported garlic purchased from a super market pick out a nice bulb feel around the cloves near the to top, if there is a slight swelling thats the one you want to buy.Get a small con.that will hold water 5mil deep quarter teaspoon thrive or seasol.leave for about three days.plant out 50mil deep.after 2 weeks my plants are now 80 ml high.
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24 May 11, Phe (Australia - temperate climate)
Thanks, I'm going to try this.
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Showing 391 - 400 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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