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 New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant cloves
  • 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 Dec 22, Clifford Foy (USA - Zone 8a climate)
Got some garlic for planting today. This has been a very strange year. Today temp is 50 inn the morning . Can expect some more rain. No cold weather so far. Can I plant the garlic or should I wait till march )running the risk of getting it spoiled. What shall I do?
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29 Nov 22, John McKeen (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow garlic ( and ginger ) in Darwin- currently it gets from 25- 35 degrees ( in the shade ) humidity 100% - Oct ( wet season- late December the rains come if we are lucky. — Dry season is March and from April to Oct about average 18 degrees at night 28 day - humidity about av 50-60%. If so what varieties and where can I buy them ? Thanks John
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03 Dec 22, (Australia - tropical climate)
It gives you the planting times here for garlic and ginger for the tropics. Buy from nursery or internet.
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18 Nov 22, Mairlyn (USA - Zone 8a climate)
I read that I should place my garlic in the refrigerator for 7 to 8 weeks before planting. I read this after the fact. How will no refrigeration prior to planting effect my results?
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16 Apr 23, Michelle (USA - Zone 9b climate)
In my zone, because it's warm, you need to do cold stratification in the frig before planting. I tried before with store garlic and it didn't work, now I bought softneck, put in the frig a few weeks and they are doing great.
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07 Dec 22, Paula (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I have never chilled mine and they do okay. I don't know the type as I have as I started with grocery store bulbs, but I have read that soft neck varieties do better in warm climates.
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04 Dec 22, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Probably make no difference. The thing is to use mature aged bulbs. Fresh new bulbs may not be as good as bulbs that have been out of the ground for a few months.
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16 Oct 22, Holly (USA - Zone 5b climate)
Can I plant garlic bulbs in pots (that will remain outside throughout winter) in zone 5b?
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20 Oct 22, (USA - Zone 5b climate)
If you can grow it in the ground you can grow it in a pot usually.
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16 Oct 22, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
gold coast qld ...harvest my garlic .not great !! yet the garlic i did get makes the whole house smell .that will keep everyone away ..any tips for me for next year thanks ...
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Showing 91 - 100 of 915 comments
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we have had 5 or six years growing in Canberra. In past, got an Australian Purple and kept saving the biggest bilbs. last year, added Monaro red from Bredbo, seemed ok not as large but we had a dog fight on the bed and stuff was squashed early. This year, sowed Diggers club 4 varieties as well as Monaro red. Just starting to harvest. The (free) diggers biofresh ok (thought we were getting Melbourne Market but they substituted) Good size bulbs for first year. Haven't harvested the rest, will repost in a week or so. In summary, any variety seems OK in Canberra, although the softnecks collapse early

- John Boundy

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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. GardenGrow 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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