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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18 Apr 09, brenda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The website of the organic garlic growers I bought my garlic from is www.snog.com.au They do mail order. (Super Natural Organic Garlic) Good luck.
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18 Apr 09, brenda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
On the Gold Coast at present try to buy organic Australian garlic at the farmers markets. I just bought some in Noosa, so they should have it on the Coast.
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13 Apr 09, Patricia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Steve, I'm in Canberra and I didn't peel the individual cloves.
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13 Apr 09, Gerry (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Steve, no you don't need to peel garlic cloves before planting, just break up the head and plant individual cloves. Paula, try any specialty shop like spice shops, asian grocers, delicatessens, markets etc, you should be able to get decent local stuff for $30/kg or less. I have an arrangement with a small local supermarket who sell local garlic. They keep all of the loose cloves from the bottom of the garlic bin for me to buy less than 1/2 price.
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12 Apr 09, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it really necessary to peel the garlic cloves before planting?
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12 Apr 09, paula (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i live on the gold coast in qld, where can i buy australian garlic from? the supermarkets only stock chinese and mexican stuff....and i don't want that rubbish, thankyou
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06 Apr 09, barbara burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have some extra garlic ' THE PEARLS OF LIFE" for sale. This year my garlic seed is large and still tastes beautiful. Prepare beds now with blood and bone and lime. Planting can take place now for the next 4 weeks. This garlic seed originally was grown in queensland so can handle warm conditions as well. Mainly my garlic loves to be grown out in the open. Love the frosts , sun and water. and just love and care. Email me if you want to buy a few gaurenteed garlic seed. Australian Golden Garlic the 'Pearls of Life.'
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16 Feb 12, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Would love to get some seed garlic from you Barb if you have any left. [email protected] Happy to pay you Thanks Geoff
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16 Jan 12, Bec wilson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Barbara we have a small garlic bussiness in Alexandra in victoria and have been growing for five years I am interested in growing some different varieties this year.Have you got any seed for sale if so what varieties and how much is it.Thanks for your time regards Bec W
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21 Aug 11, Janis (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HI, just wondering if anyone has garlic seeds for sale or know where I may purchase some? Kind Regards Janis
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Showing 501 - 510 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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