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 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

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22 Feb 18, Tony.E. (Australia - temperate climate)
If your plant that smells like garlic has a stem with a seed pod at the top then it is not a garlic, it has the name giant russian garlic or elephant garlic, but it is not a true garlic it is closer related to the leek family. True garlic does not grow seeds.
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17 Jul 18, Ray S (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I’m afraid that’s not quite correct Tony. Garlic can and does set seed though only some varieties manage it. There is at least one breeding program, in Israel I believe, using true garlic seed to develop new varieties, among other things. It took them a while to track down varieties that do set seed but they managed. I have heard that the variety Duganski sets seed readily.
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23 Dec 17, Andrea Cousins (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Is there a suitable variety of garlic that I can successfully grow in Kununurra, (Ord River Region), Western Australia?
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28 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
Go on the internet and see if there are any that are suitable for the tropics otherwise try any normal variety from a shop.
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11 Dec 17, Phillip green (Australia - temperate climate)
Where on central coast can I buy garlic bulbs to plant?
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04 Mar 18, Scott (Australia - temperate climate)
Try bunnings or any good nursery. DON'T use garlic from the supermarket as a lot tend to be imported from China and spread disease into the soil. Good luck and happy gardening!
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13 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
From any shop that sells them - supermarkets etc. Plant around June.
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08 Dec 17, Ryan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have recently harvested my garlic and was wondering if it is possible to freeze at least 2 bulbs to plant again next year?
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08 Dec 17, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I would just let them dry out for a week or so and then store in a cool dry area.
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01 Dec 17, Marilyn Mortlock (Australia - temperate climate)
Is it possible to plant garlic in December in Sydney?
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Showing 391 - 400 of 919 comments
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I have been growing garlic in north east Victoria for 15years. I grow new Zealand purple and also Russian. I love the flavour of NZ purple and I love the size of the Russian for using in making tomato sauce as it is so big sometimes you only need one clove.So much easier to chop than the other. Nearly every year I get caught with November rain just when I am ready to harvest and lose three quarters of my crop but I think this year I've got it right. I used to grow huge quatities for years but noone ever wanted it so now I am down to just enough for the family.I jar a lot of it in good cold pressed olive oil to have lots for over winter. Any advice needed I'm more than happy to reply cheers chris.

- christine bryant

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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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