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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04 May 09, Barb Burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have planted 2500 garlic cloves in prepared raised ( well drained soil) with lots of grass mulch . 4weeks later little shoots appearing daily. Needs warm sun and plenty rain.Good luck.
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19 Apr 09, kembo (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks for all the tips, haven't tried garlic but we love it so we're looking forward to growing our own :)
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18 Apr 09, brenda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The website of the organic garlic growers I bought my garlic from is www.snog.com.au They do mail order. (Super Natural Organic Garlic) Good luck.
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18 Apr 09, brenda (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
On the Gold Coast at present try to buy organic Australian garlic at the farmers markets. I just bought some in Noosa, so they should have it on the Coast.
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13 Apr 09, Patricia (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Steve, I'm in Canberra and I didn't peel the individual cloves.
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13 Apr 09, Gerry (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Steve, no you don't need to peel garlic cloves before planting, just break up the head and plant individual cloves. Paula, try any specialty shop like spice shops, asian grocers, delicatessens, markets etc, you should be able to get decent local stuff for $30/kg or less. I have an arrangement with a small local supermarket who sell local garlic. They keep all of the loose cloves from the bottom of the garlic bin for me to buy less than 1/2 price.
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12 Apr 09, Steve (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it really necessary to peel the garlic cloves before planting?
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12 Apr 09, paula (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i live on the gold coast in qld, where can i buy australian garlic from? the supermarkets only stock chinese and mexican stuff....and i don't want that rubbish, thankyou
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06 Apr 09, barbara burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have some extra garlic ' THE PEARLS OF LIFE" for sale. This year my garlic seed is large and still tastes beautiful. Prepare beds now with blood and bone and lime. Planting can take place now for the next 4 weeks. This garlic seed originally was grown in queensland so can handle warm conditions as well. Mainly my garlic loves to be grown out in the open. Love the frosts , sun and water. and just love and care. Email me if you want to buy a few gaurenteed garlic seed. Australian Golden Garlic the 'Pearls of Life.'
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16 Feb 12, Geoff (Australia - temperate climate)
Would love to get some seed garlic from you Barb if you have any left. geoff.tonkin4@bigpond.com Happy to pay you Thanks Geoff
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Showing 831 - 840 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! :)

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