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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10 Apr 15, Amanda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Moses, I came across information about a man growing garlic in Uganda. Maybe you can find him for some help on how to grow garlic. He is known as Dr Twaha Kakooza and is a resident of Bubajjwe village, Kayunga sub-county, in Kayunga district. He is the proprietor of Shatwa Mixed Farm located in the same area & also doctor of herbal medicine. Regards, Amanda.
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19 Dec 14, manie sequeira (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
my wife and i started a childrens home. is it possible to make money out of garlic on a peace of grownd 35m * 13m.
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19 Jan 15, Vivian (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi, Yes you can. Try www.garlicgrowers.co.za Good luck. rds
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08 Dec 14, Uraj (USA - Zone 13a climate)
Is there a garlic that will grow in the tropic, if so I will like to try it.Where can I obtain these garlic. I live in Guyana South America.
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27 Nov 14, celia (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Trying a garden for garlic at home in campbell northern cape. The one lot's leaves look if it hang down on the ground. Litereally flat on the soil and not upright. We have very hot summers and very cold winters in the northen cape. Could somebody send me some tips or why the garlic hang so flat
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17 Nov 14, Koos Snyman (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
When to plant garlic . How to fireflies garlic . Spray garlic for pest.
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14 Nov 14, Janet (Australia - temperate climate)
Am on NSW far south coast. Planted garlic around June and they are starting to brown off now. Any point in leaving them in longer ie waiting till the longest day? Also should I water them at all before harvest?
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22 Oct 14, Gert olivier (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
We would like to plant garlic. Area is Bela Bela and we would like to find out where to purchase the seed pods. Our soil is clay, will this work and when should we plant Thanks
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12 Oct 14, Hannelie Burger (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I am staying in Sutherland Northern Cape with very harsh snowy winters and thunder rain in summer on top of the Komsberg mountain range. Is it possible to plant garlic now in October and harvest before winter because our growing window is only between October and March. Which cultivar is the best for this conditions.
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27 Sep 14, Glen (Australia - temperate climate)
I live on NSW far south coast, moved there quite recently. I planted garlic as usual at mid-winter, and it was fine for a while, then started looking unwell with some dead leaves. Gave a bit of blood and bone about three weeks ago, and now the lot has died. Disappeared. I've just dug it up, and there were a few small bulbs starting to form. The soil came from a supplier and was a soil and mushroom compost mix. Never had a problem before - dows anyone have any ideas as to what's wrong.
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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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