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 Apr 18, Daniel Barresi (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Has anyone used a weedecide such as roundup prior to garlic emerging?
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25 Apr 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The roundup would have to come in contact with the leaves of the garlic to do it any damage.
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10 Jun 18, Sensible (Australia - temperate climate)
Who in their right mind would use poison in the vicinity of where they are growing food?
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07 Apr 18, danie van niekerk (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
What fertilizer can I use to grow garlic. I use very old manure and 323 fertilizer.
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20 Mar 18, tessa (Australia - temperate climate)
Silly question really. Can we eat russian garlic. A friend gave me some and am wondering if it is edible
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20 Mar 18, Lisa (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Yes, they are edible. They have a milder flavour than most garlic. If you have plenty you can eat the stems like leeks too. Don't pull them, just cut at ground level and they will regrow.
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06 Mar 18, Pamela Honey (Australia - temperate climate)
When do we plant garlic in Moree NSW 2400
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26 Sep 18, Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Pam. I live in a temperate zone on the mid north coast and plant garlic around Anzac Day and harvest around armistice day as a general rule of thumb.
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07 Mar 18, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Read through the information and comments on the Garlic page - Click on the Vegetables and Herbs tab and then Garlic. Set the zone to Temperate Australia at the top of the page.
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24 Feb 18, Leonie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have just discovered your website, wow, it's fantastic!
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Showing 371 - 380 of 915 comments
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Lucky for you, you're in the same climate zone as the famous garlic producing town of Gilroy, CA. I understand they plant around late October/November and harvest in June or July. I'm not sure what the result will be for you since you planted yours later and garlic needs a very long season. Try pulling them up in July. If your weather gets very hot before then I'd put some light shade cloth over the garlic to bring the temperature down a few degrees. You may find that your bulbs are smaller than you hoped for, or that it only makes one large clove instead of separate cloves. They should still be good, just not ideal. Then try planting again around Halloween and your garlic should be much bigger next year. Btw, I'm not sure why the chart says garlic shouldn't be planted in 9a. Certainly 9a on the West Coast can and does plant it.

- Anonymous

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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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