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

14 Oct 08, barbara burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I have been growing aussie garlic for 12 years. First in Qld. now in Sth Victoria. My garlic is known as Australian Golden Garlic. 'The PEARLS of LIFE. tm. All is vibrant seed garlic . lasts stored 15 months or more. And grows and multiplys 10 fold. Flavour hot sweet and very moorish.Cloves med-large , purple colour. Delicious.!!
04 Nov 10, barbara burnet (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Have just completed digging out my beautiful red skinned 'Pearls of Life'. about 1500 heads . All the wet weather has been good for them. Started pulling out three weeks ago and sold nearly all. Cold winter held them back a month. They taste wonderful.
05 Nov 10, Gene (Australia - temperate climate)
They sound wonderful Barbara. Where do you sell them?
10 Feb 11, bill elliott (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
So where do you sell your garlic Barbara Burnett, as I would definately like to buy some from you please??
28 Jan 12, Fr David S Dampier (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Thanks for all your help Ms Burnett. Will you add me to your 'sell' list when you are ready to sell seed 'Pearls of Life' garlic? I definately would buy from 20-30. I can look after that many without too many dramas. I am retired and therefore have adequate gardening time on my handss BTW how much do you generally charge? Thanks again. -Fr David S Dampier
01 Mar 11, Barbara Burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thankyou for comments. I am preparing soil now for planting. may be in two to three weeks.Have had to get soil hoed up this year instead of digging up. Much easier.! I have only sold in small amounts this year . Have found if customers buy lots to plant they forget about it or cannot find it amongst weeds etc. Home gardners are better to plant no more than 20 bulbs .They can look after them fertilise etc. They do need care, although easy to grow. They have wonder flavour and do not go off. I market my Garlic for your Good Health and to eat them freshly sliced daily with a biscuit and a little tomato on fresh bread and honey. or toast. Wonderfull.Thats why I call them the "Pearls of Life."
04 Mar 11, paddy (Australia - temperate climate)
thanks for the read, I was given today some garlic to plant, it is beginning to shoot, do I plant it now or wait for a while, if so how should I store same.....thanks ia
10 May 11, Vincent Albioli (Australia - temperate climate)
Hello Barbara I am looking at planting about 1 acre of garlic on unprepared ground. My question to you is, have I missed the boat? Once you take in the time required to have the ground ready for planting. Secondly, do you have any extra garlic to sell so I can plant or do you know someone who can help. Very interested in the Australian Gold. Hope you can help or pass on any information would be greatly appreciated.
24 May 11, Benjamin Petkov (Australia - temperate climate)
This is my first year of growing Garlic. The ground is nice and rich and the first little sprouts have started to poke out of the ground. However they are being attacked by birds. Any ideas on how to keep them away?
24 Nov 11, Ros (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi am wondering where to purchase enough garlic for about an acre. Ta
Showing 21 - 30 of 899 comments

I have some garlic growing well (I think) in my semi-shaded vegie garden. I planted them in late April this year and all the shoots are pointing up nicely right now. They are different thicknesses, so predict that I will have some bulbs that are much smaller than others. My question to put out there is; how should I best store my bulbs? When the tops yellow off and I harvest say 20 bulbs, and use about 1 bulb per week, would they last me the 5 months I'd have them for? Can they be stored within any medium to keep them longer (like dry sand)? Or just the dark?

- Jaci

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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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