Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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

(Best months for growing Garlic in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant cloves

September: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

October: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

  • Easy to grow. Plant cloves. Best planted at soil temperatures between 50°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 4 - 5 inches 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

11 Nov 22, Ken (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I'm in zone 10a. My garlic was planted 3 weeks ago. It is growing in the ground, in planters, and 6 are coming up in an old dish pan. It grows well here.
27 Nov 22, Dave in California Zone 10A (USA - Zone 10a climate)
my Zone 10A garlic, all in rectangular containers 24" length x 7.5" width, x 6.5" height, is sprouting well also, with some shoots up to about two inches. I had several garlic bulbs I intentionally kept in my refrigerator for a couple months, divided them into cloves, peeled them to avoid mold and decay, and kept the separated cloves open to the light at room temperature until they started sprouting. When the majority had tiny green shoots, I selected the best cloves (solid, no spongy or discolored parts) and planted them shallow with the very top of the clove showing as per advice from an internet container gardening site. I am really being careful not to overwater and it looks like all the cloves sprouted green shoots, but after a couple weeks I did have birds pull up maybe eight out of thirty or so of the newly sprouted cloves, so I replanted the missing ones with a more cloves, then added about an inch more soil over the top, and so far the birds have not raided again with the cloves now about two inches deep. Lesson learned: the internet advice for container gardening to plant the cloves with the tip showing is an invitation to be raided by birds. Solution: plant deeper, maybe two inches below the soil surface, even in shallow containers.
11 Oct 22, Dena Basinger (USA - Zone 5b climate)
How to plant garlic in zone 5b in the ground and in pots. Sunshine and water how much
20 Oct 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Read the notes here how to plant it. In full sun and check the soil down an inch or so, if dryish water - like each 2-3 days.
08 Oct 22, Beth (USA - Zone 6b climate)
I should have my first frost this week and haven't gotten them in the ground yet. I haven't had the time this year. Is it too late to plant for harvest next year? Any suggestions on how to plant and fertilizer needed would be greatly appreciated.
10 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 6b climate)
You had better be quick about it.
30 Sep 22, Barb (USA - Zone 5b climate)
How often do you water the garlic? What are garlic frills??? I think that is the word....when the tops start to curl.
30 Oct 22, Jo (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Scapes are only grown from the hardneck garlic. Once they coil around 1-2 times it’s important to cut close to the stem so the plant doesn’t expend it’s energy growing the scape not the bulb. Once the scapes grow the bulbs are usually ready to be harvested a month or so thereafter! Hardnecks are great for cooler zones and softnecks for warmer climates. For storage though softnecks are much preferred as they can store well 6-9 months whereas hardneck bulbs usually only 3-6 months.
03 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 4b climate)
Your soil should be moist but not really wet. Try watering 2-3 times a week depending on how hot it is.
09 Sep 22, Donna (USA - Zone 7b climate)
I’m in 7b. Will garlic thrive in pots and standing gardens?
Showing 41 - 50 of 126 comments

I live in zone 9b and the commercial farmers harvest their garlic in June and July. Garlic grows well here. I believe that it is planted in January - the soft neck type.

- Jett Town

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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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