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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for USA | for all countries
14 Apr 19, joe graham (Australia - temperate climate)
I see a question from Paul Riley temperate climate Australia regarding shot garlic. can someone tell me do you plant garlic with the green shoot sticking out of the soil or is ok to plant deeper Thanks for any advice in advance
Reply or Post a new comment
12 May 19, ken gadischke (Australia - temperate climate)
garlic should not be planted after it starts to shoot. Only.plump cloves with no sign of a shoot should be planted. Mid May in temperate climes is the best time to plant.
Reply or Post a new comment
04 Jun 19, Carolyn Young (Australia - temperate climate)
Why don't you plant shot garlic? I have a stack to plant i was just going to now
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Apr 19, Paul Riley (Australia - temperate climate)
G'day Joe, mine weren't shot when I planted them last week but I have a few up and would have thought the best way would be to have them proud. That's what they'll end up like anyway...
Reply or Post a new comment
19 Mar 19, Patricia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My name is Patricia Could you please tell me where can I buy organic garlic to plant And at what time of the year I need to plant the garlic We have a lot of frost the winters here at Macclesfield Australia Are very cold Will wait for your reply
Reply or Post a new comment
02 May 19, Ted (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can buy on line @ . They have all types and strains and most are in stock now ready to plant and the web site is very informative. Regards
Reply or Post a new comment
26 Mar 19, Sally (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, you can get organic garlic now from Green Harvest: greenharvest.com.au They also provide lots of information on growing.
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Mar 19, Ruth (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Dear Patricia, we live near the Barrington Tops National Park and get quite a bit of frost. we have been growing garlic organically for many year, always planting around eastertime , ours is a hardneck called Tasmanian Purple, here is a very helpful guide for all that is garlic https://www.australiangarlic.net.au/
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Mar 19, Paul Riley (Australia - temperate climate)
Where is the best place to source shot garlic cloves in the Riverland and what kind grows best here?
Reply or Post a new comment
14 Mar 19, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Do some internet research.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 311 - 320 of 915 comments
See comments for all plants

Hi, we have been growing garlic now for 5 years on a pretty small scale, about 1 acre. Have been to field days, read literature & spent too many hours looking on the net. This has to be one of the most frustrating things I have ever been involved with. Some say it is swamp plant & you can't over water, others say to let them dry out a few times as it encourages growth. Heaps of fertilizer, very little fertilizer, sandy soil is best, loam is best etc. etc. Like an earlier post let the bulb tell you, ha ha. But it is true. For our purple garlic plant in March April with mild fertilizer, we use blood & bone. We water as you would any other plant, use a moisture meter or stick you fingers in the soil to see how dry/wet it is. Occasionally top dress with b&b. Pull one out every few weeks & see what it says. One thing that is common to all advice is to not water for the last 3-4 weeks (noted when the leaves start to turn yellow & die off) as this will produce a very slimy skin not easy to work with & hard to stop rot. Again pull one up & have a look at what it's doing, it will let you know same as a citrus, potato or anything else. Just takes time to get to know it. Hope this adds to the confusion, I know I still am.

- John

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put Gardenate in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.