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 10°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 12 cm 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
12 Nov 12, Janet Catesby (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just harvested my first crop of garlic and I cut off the stems (probably should not have) and cleaned them and left them in a dry bowl to dry out. I noticed today that they are sprouting! Help.
Reply or Post a new comment
13 Nov 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
Next year just dig them up leaving the soil on them and lay the whole plant out on a rack to dry in the shade outside but out of the rain.When the tops are completly dry just pull them off and rub the soil off the bulb.
Reply or Post a new comment
02 Nov 12, Amber (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi I would like to no what dose it mean when the stem of my garlic gets round polps in it. Its like it is growing more garlic up the stem.
Reply or Post a new comment
25 Jan 13, Jennifer (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Amber, this is the garlic plant's other option for reproducing. You can plant the bulblets and they will turn into a garlic.. They need12 month longer than the garlic grown from cloves.
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Oct 12, (Australia - tropical climate)
I find it very difficult to get Australian garlic in my local area of Lismore NSW. How hard is it to grow in our area which is the Northern Rivers.
Reply or Post a new comment
16 Jan 13, Anita (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hiya, I'm also in Lismore :) Have you found any good sources of garlic yet? I'm having visions of planting huge amounts of garlic all around my new fruit orchard- both for fun and pest control :)
Reply or Post a new comment
28 Oct 12, Vai (Australia - temperate climate)
You should have no problem. Just choose the right type of garlic. Diggers Club (www.diggers.com.au) sells a variety called Southern Glen which is suitable for warmer climates. I'm growing the same even though I'm in Melbourne and mine are about to be harvested. Good luck.
Reply or Post a new comment
12 Oct 12, Rupa bodasing (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I live in Kzn,on the North coast,i would like 2 knw da best time for planting garlic
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Jan 16, ATHOL HAWKES (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I live on the humid South Coast of Natal and would like to know if it is feasable to grow garliccommercially ?
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Sep 12, melinda (Australia - tropical climate)
O.K. It seems too hot to plant garlic in Nth Qld now,How do I store it untill planting time,as I have Aussie garlic and other gloves that I want to plant,but not at the wrong time of the year,which it seems is now ? and they are fresh however have been kept in the fridge for a few weeks? Thankyou, mel.
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 651 - 660 of 906 comments
See comments for all plants

Ask a question or post a comment or advice about Garlic

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.