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

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06 Aug 20, Anonymous (USA - Zone 9b climate)
Read the notes here and then think about your climate, weather and soil temperatures. If it says you need this this and that and you don't have those conditions then it is not likely to grow. Some crops are cool weather some need warm/hot temps.
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05 Jul 20, Mike mahaffy (USA - Zone 8a climate)
What is the most flavorful garlic? In Central South Carolina (Zone 8A), is hard neck, or softneck garlic, better to plant?
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23 Jun 20, Simeon Tshwene (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
How do I grow garlic
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24 Jun 20, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I suggest you google
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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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Showing 221 - 230 of 915 comments
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We have put in about a 1/4 acre of Australian White garlic after successfully trialing some last year. We are growing it organically which means hand weeding and mulching with four kids in tow in the middle of winter. We plant in early May and harvest when only a few green leaves are left, the others having turned brown. We didn't fertilise and had great size cloves so we were lucky. I've heard it can be very site specific. We'd be happy to sell mail order bulbs come Dec/Jan when we harvest. If anyone knows of an effective dab-on organic herbicide please let us know, or if you have detailed info on how meticulous the weeding has to be, as the sites I've read say garlic does not compete well with weeds. The mulching really helped with the weeds last year and we found we didn't need to water as the mulch kept the moisture in (we have a nice wet block which also helps).

- Kylie

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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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