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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24 Oct 18, Christo (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Rather not it is to hot that time of year best to start planting between Feb and Apr.
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14 Sep 18, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
I have a garlic that has green shoots coming out of each clove. Is it still possible to plant the cloves now in the South West of WA? Thanks
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14 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - temperate climate)
Read the first line in the notes here.
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13 Sep 18, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can venda in limpopo b suitable for garlic?
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06 Sep 18, Nikki (USA - Zone 5a climate)
When is the best time to plant garlic in Western Colorado and southeastern Utah
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06 Sep 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Have a look here, www.gardenate.com/plant/Garlic?zone=11 You can find planting information by using the Vegetables and Herbs tab, then setting your zone at the top of the page for your chosen vegetable.
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03 Sep 18, (USA - Zone 10b climate)
I live in zone 10b and have never had a problem growing garlic. I always have an abundance for storing and using for about six months. I was wondering about planting earlier, say October, instead of December, or would it be too warm? Looking for an earlier harvest
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29 Aug 18, Ruth Munro (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Can you still plant garlic in late August in castlemaine?. Its still freezing here minus 3 at night.
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31 Aug 18, Sue (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
You could give it a try but I doubt there will be time for the bulbs to develop as all the energy will go into leaf development. In Daylesford we plant in April/May and harvest around December. They also seem to like moist, cool weather and hopefully we are running out of that. Last year though, the cockies took all the tops off mine around this time so they had to grow new leaves and we still had good bulb development so you could give it a try. Let us know how you go.
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30 Aug 18, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It does suggest to plant April May - have a think about it.
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Showing 341 - 350 of 915 comments
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If you're planning to sell fresh produce at maybe a market or to restaurants, it would be better (faster) to start with veggies that mature faster, like lettuce and radishes. Garlic takes a long time to mature and they cannot be grown successfully for continued harvest throughout the year. I'd start with lettuce especially, because they can grow and produce for most of the year and restaurants use them daily... Also maybe basil, because it is a popular herb that is bought fresh frequently. When you have that going, you can start with tomatoes, which take a bit longer to harvest, but they are easy to propagate and always in demand. Plan properly and focus on something that is simple, quick and for which you have a market close to home, figure out how to do that well and produce enough to start generating income and you can build it up from there. Good luck! :)

- May

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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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