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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13 Jul 15, Gilberte (Australia - temperate climate)
Compost tea compost tea can be made from your compost. Compost: 1 layer of straw 1 layer of greens (alfalfa, lucern ....)or kitchen scraps sprinkle of wood chips sprinkle of soil sprinkle of cow or other manure sparingly sprinkle with water mixed with two tablespoons of unsulfured molasses and then start the layers all over again until the bail of straw is finished. Cover with black plastic. After 4 days turn compostheap and then every 2 days until no warmth is felt. Fill a bag with the compost and hang it in a drum with water. Either blow air into the water with an airpump or turn the water with a stick so it shapes a vortex. Do this several times during the day. You will have enough organic fertilizer from one compost heap for about a season. (sprinkle your garden vegetables every week or 2 weeks). Always keep your compost heap covered. If you have leafy vegies add a little bit of seaweed concentrate. Do not give sea weed concentrate to your fruiting vegies eg tomatoes, capsicum etc as it will encourage folliage but not the fruit.
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23 Apr 15, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I WANT TO GROW GARLIC IN NORTHERN BOTSWANA . WHEN CAN I START GROWING THE CLOVES AND WHERE DO I GET QUALITY CLOVES?
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21 Apr 15, july (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to buy a garlic seeds or bulbs and how do I go about it?
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13 Apr 15, frank (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I believe that of the 100 or so types of garlic only a few are suitable for colder regions, Could you please advise which ones? Thank you.
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30 Nov 15, John Boundy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
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
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29 Mar 15, faried (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to start in northen cape kuruman very hot summer and harsh winnter. Would like to put them under shady net
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29 Mar 15, Wessel Otto (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can you please give me a webpage, with every details about garlic, type of fertilizer very important. What about chicken compost, is it enough. Thanks
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22 Mar 15, Joe Viscione (Australia - temperate climate)
how to prepare plot for garlic, and what firtelise is needed
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03 Apr 15, Tony Grossetti (Australia - temperate climate)
Joe, good old fashion chicken manure or dynamic lifter is what I use. Spread on top of the soil where you intend to plant then turn over soil well and water in. Garlic will need a sunny spot to mature to large size. Do this a few weeks before planting. Plant garlic and water in well. Once the garlic starts to shoot use a soluable fertilizer every 2-3 weeks (maybe once a month in winter). Hope it works out for you.
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07 Feb 15, Moses Opoo (Australia - tropical climate)
Hello, I live in Eastern Uganda with very harsh weather. What type of garlic can I plant here reflecting on the weather.
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This is a transcript of a article on growing garlic in central Australia (desert). It is on ABC Rural News and may be a help to you. Trials reveal potential for garlic-growing in Northern Territory Posted 7 Oct 2016 MAP: Alice Springs 0870 A trial exploring the capabilities of seven garlic varieties in the red centre is showing some early positive results. Seven varieties of garlic are being trialled at the Northern Territory's Arid Zone Research Institute (AZRI), alongside the standard industry garlic variety, Glen Large. The Alice Springs environment will demonstrate how varieties that have never been grown commercially in the Northern Territory respond to extreme cold and extreme heat. Central Australian Horticulture Development Project manager and researcher Stuart Smith said despite challenges such as poor water quality, the results so far had been positive. "We're hoping, because we're just south of the Tropic of Capricorn, we're just a bit a little subtropical, that we're in the right area," he said. "We've got the right heat profile, right day length and we're able to grow some good bulbs. "If it'll grow here, it'll grow anywhere. "Central Australia is a bit isolated from the rest of Australia so it doesn't have the pests and diseases of the other garlic-growing areas." Plan to get garlic onto market early in season Mr Smith believes there is a market opportunity for garlic that grows early in the traditional growing season. We thought we could get a few varieties to come early on the market, so we can get some good prices for them and replace the imported garlic," he said. The first successful harvested trial crop has reached a stage of maturity that would be ready for market. "It's got a code name called AF. We're getting some good-sized bulbs out of this," Mr Smith said. "I estimate we're getting 6-8 tonnes per hectare." The DPI's Stuart Smith and agriculture minister Ken Vowles stand in a field of garlic PHOTO: Stuart Smith and Primary Industries Minister Ken Vowles discuss the garlic crop trial near Alice Springs. (ABC Rural: Katrina Beaven) Mr Smith said the early trial results were encouraging despite poor water quality and salty soils. "We have to keep watering them pretty constantly to keep moving the salt out of the root zone," he said. "The water we're using at AZRI is pretty low quality. "Most of the water other people are using in horticulture around the Central Australian region is a lot better quality than this." Mr Smith said the research results would also add value to what was being learned by a grower at Orange Creek Station, south of Alice Springs, who is conducting a commercial garlic trial this year.

- John

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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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