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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07 Jun 17, Tony Baker (Australia - temperate climate)
I planted my elephant garlic on the 21st April, a bit late this year and it is i going great never have a problem with it. I usually plant it on the shortest day of the year and pull it out on the longest day of the year. Good Luck
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14 May 17, liz (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
how deep do i plant the garlic bulb - do i start it off first trying to get some roots developing or do i just plant a clove at whatever depth they require - thanks
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15 May 17, Ken (Australia - temperate climate)
I normally plant mine point end up about 25-30 mm below the surface. They can take a while to come up just like other bulbs such as daffodils.
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17 May 17, Tony Robinson (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I live just out of Dunedin where we get frosts and occasional snow storms, our winters could be classed as severe. Garlic is similar to shallots in that it was regarded years ago to plant both shallots and garlic on the shortest day (June 21st.) and harvest on the longest day (December 21st) How-ever I now plant my garlic at intervals from early May through to mid August with great results. I always plant my clove straight into the ground with the top about half an inch below the surface. Space your cloves about six inches apart, the best of luck with your future plantings. Tony
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10 May 17, Geraldine Holmes (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Not sure if Brisbane is tropical or sub-tropical but here is my question... I planted garlic last weekend without realising that it shouldn't be near to asparagus. Could you tell me why please? There's just one batch there the othets are near tomatoes and in a pot.
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01 May 17, Fiona (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I planted my garlic in mid April, and it's coming up really well. At the same time, I planted some elephant/giant garlic cloves a friend gave me (grown in his garden nearby). The elephant garlic isn't showing above ground at all. Is this normal that it takes longer to shoot, or did I plant it at the wrong time?
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02 May 17, Jack (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Some bulbs are slower to emerge from the ground. You could carefully scratch around the bulb site with your finger and see if is coming up. The only negative thing I can think of is that the bulbs may have been damp and have rotted. I doubt this.
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03 May 17, Fiona (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks Jack. I might have a scratch around and see. I don't think the cloves would have rotted either. Probably I just need to be patient!
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24 Apr 17, Kobus (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I'm a blind person and want to plant garlic. I'm looking for as much info as possible on the cultivation of garlic, but it looks like I'm at a dead-end. I found an address on the web, but they just don't answer my mails. Where can I get information please?
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15 May 17, Romy (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Probeer [email protected] tel0832273447
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This is a transcript of a article on growing garlic in central Australia (desert). It is on ABC Rural News and may be a help to you. Trials reveal potential for garlic-growing in Northern Territory Posted 7 Oct 2016 MAP: Alice Springs 0870 A trial exploring the capabilities of seven garlic varieties in the red centre is showing some early positive results. Seven varieties of garlic are being trialled at the Northern Territory's Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI), alongside the standard industry garlic variety, Glen Large. The Alice Springs environment will demonstrate how varieties that have never been grown commercially in the Northern Territory respond to extreme cold and extreme heat. Central Australian Horticulture Development Project manager and researcher Stuart Smith said despite challenges such as poor water quality, the results so far had been positive. "We're hoping, because we're just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, we're just a bit a little subtropical, that we're in the right area," he said. "We've got the right heat profile, right day length and we're able to grow some good bulbs. "If it'll grow here, it'll grow anywhere. "Central Australia is a bit isolated from the rest of Australia so it doesn't have the pests and diseases of the other garlic-growing areas." Plan to get garlic onto market early in season Mr Smith believes there is a market opportunity for garlic that grows early in the traditional growing season. We thought we could get a few varieties to come early on the market, so we can get some good prices for them and replace the imported garlic," he said. The first successful harvested trial crop has reached a stage of maturity that would be ready for market. "It's got a code name called AF. We're getting some good-sized bulbs out of this," Mr Smith said. "I estimate we're getting 6-8 tonnes per hectare." The DPI's Stuart Smith and agriculture minister Ken Vowles stand in a field of garlic PHOTO: Stuart Smith and Primary Industries Minister Ken Vowles discuss the garlic crop trial near Alice Springs. (ABC Rural: Katrina Beaven) Mr Smith said the early trial results were encouraging despite poor water quality and salty soils. "We have to keep watering them pretty constantly to keep moving the salt out of the root zone," he said. "The water we're using at AZRI is pretty low quality. "Most of the water other people are using in horticulture around the Central Australian region is a lot better quality than this." Mr Smith said the research results would also add value to what was being learned by a grower at Orange Creek Station, south of Alice Springs, who is conducting a commercial garlic trial this year.

- John

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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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