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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08 Jun 20, Sharon Rogers (Australia - tropical climate)
We live in wet tropics on Mt Bartle Frere. We have garlic cloves now shooting and raised garden beds. What chance do we have and if so what natural fertilzers and when to use them.
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09 Jun 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have good draining soil also. You are growing in the drier part of the year.
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09 Jun 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Also google about garlic and read up.
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09 Jun 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Buy rooster booster from Bunnings or go to a farm produce supplier and buy an organic fert. Both of those may only sell 15-25kg bags. Or go and see if you can buy a smaller quantity from Bunnings nurseries or Coles Woolworths. You could try Seasol or something similar but make sure it has NPK %.
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27 May 20, paul hansard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Where do I buy Garlic bulbs & ginger to grow ? Please.
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28 May 20, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Boondie seeds or other seed selling websites.
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25 May 20, Jon Hosford (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Garlic is best planted before the extremely cold weather sets in so that it can sprout and grow healthy leaves. It will then use this solid start to set healthy bulbs in the spring months. When tops start to flag, cease watering. Pull the garlic when the bulbs are strong and healthy and allow the leaves to die right back before storing. I live in a cool climate (Tasmania) and am able to keep garlic without it sprouting for use in cooking until July/August .
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26 Apr 20, David G (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi there We're in Sydney, which is officially sub-tropical. Should I plant garlic now, or wait until late May/June? Thanks David
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29 Jan 21, Paul Pryde (Australia - temperate climate)
Plant on the shortest day of the year that`s June harvest longest day of the year
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27 Apr 20, Anon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The planting guide says May to July. It looks like it is going to turn cold this weekend, time to plant I think. I have never grown it. They say plant around the shortest day of the year and harvest the longest - sunlight hours that is. Some people say that isn't true.
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Showing 61 - 70 of 577 comments
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One other company for great Garlic is garlicworld.com. They are based in Port Campbell in Victoria, Simon and his wife.I got some lovely Californis purple from them. Not sure if they'd have any left now. A couple of years ago, I got some Purple garlic which came from Chile. I really don't like to buy out of area stuff, but I figured it would be a one off, and haven't bought much since, except for the garlicworld stuff. Melanie, the garlic is ready when the top wilts and leans over, as Jen has said. Sometimes, the plant goes into flowering mode, but usually not, usually it just falls over. The stem that falls is the bit you use to tie it up with, so if you let it die too much, you won't get the protective outer skin, or something to plait it with. I tend to wait until it looks a bit ratty, but hasn't died completely, about a week or so after it keels over. Then I dig it up, don't pull it from the stem, I learned that lesson the first year.!! Hope this helps.

- Adam

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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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