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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15 Jun 10, Garry (Australia - temperate climate)
Brush off any soil clinging to the bulbs. Leave the stalks and roots on the bulbs, while they dry. Allow the bulbs to cure, or dry, for three to four weeks in either a well-ventilated room or a dry, shady spot outside. Sunlight can change the flavor of fresh garlic. Once the tops and roots have dried they can be cut off.
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11 Jun 10, James (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted this years garlic and have a few left to use until the new crop is ready but they are starting to shoot. How can I stop garlic from shooting in storage.
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03 Jun 10, FRANK MATTHEW (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I Have been been growing garlic for around 3 to 4 yrs,my garden is the western area sydney, my best advise is to add plently of compost, grass clippings and well rotted chiecken,horse or cow manure, do not water heavy in during coller months
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28 May 10, Karyn (Australia - temperate climate)
I want to plant some cloves that have sprouted. What does it like to be (or not be) planted near?
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30 May 10, Diana (Australia - temperate climate)
Garlic likes carrot. I am currently interplanting asian veggies (PakChoy, Chinese broccoli, Choy Sum) with garlic as they grow faster because I do not have much space. I have no problem and the good outcomes from this both plant relationship is that I manage to have nice leafy veggies (without holes) as garlic deter these asian vegetable pests.
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27 May 10, Richar (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I planted garlic at begining of May and they have shoots about 60mm already. They are planted about 75mm apart, near carrots and radish, all doing well.
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27 May 10, Jo myers (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted out 50 cloves of australian garlic bought from woollies in our community garden. They all came up really well. It was my first time growing garlic and it has kept me supplied with garlic since october last year. I thought i'd missed the boat in plnating them this year, but I notice i've got about four weeks to get a move on. How nice it is to have a big plait of them in your kitchen!
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27 May 10, (Australia - temperate climate)
I must try that - I've been eating the aussie garlic from woollies, but might save a bit to grow!
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27 May 10, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Jo, maybe your garlic was chemically treated to prevent sprouting? Was it supermarket garlic, or sold for planting?
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25 May 10, Jim Voss (Australia - temperate climate)
Is growing garlic commercially a viable proposition? We own reasonable acreage of land in Longford Vic. Normally run beef or sheep but can easily fence off a section. Light sandy soil, we do have access to a small amount of bore water (good quality) I'm a plumber by trade so no worries about a sprinkler system. How often do you have to water? Is garlic troubled by insects ? What about rabbits & roo's do they eat the sprouts?
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Showing 421 - 430 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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