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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13 Dec 10, Richard (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just dug up my garlic which I planted in june. The stems had completly died and the garlic bulbs were only the size of a 20 cent coin in diameter. what happened
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25 Dec 10, Dennis (Australia - temperate climate)
NOT ENOUGH WATER (NEEDS TO BE 130% OF THE EVAPORATION OR TO MUCH WEED COMPETITION
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11 Nov 10, Gail Ceresia (USA - Zone 5a climate)
How deep shoul garlic be planted. Should I plant the cloves 6 inches deep or 2 inches deep?
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28 Sep 20, Joe Trzcinka (USA - Zone 5a climate)
I have had excellent luck planting just about 2 inches deep and 6 to 8 inches apart. I do cover with a few inches of chopped leaves or straw to protect from freeze
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06 Sep 10, Cathy Black (New Zealand - temperate climate)
What fertiliser to use ? How much per hecter? and When? Thankyou
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23 Aug 10, barbara burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
my beautiful garlic is bearing up to the cold wet and windy weather down in west victoria. every sunny? day I foliar spray with an organic fertiliser. and last week sprinkled a little b/b around them. Soon it will be spring .and ooh lalla.
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15 Aug 10, andy (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
planted garlic in march and its done well but recently some has leaned over almost touching the ground, is this a problem
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20 Jun 10, Andre (Australia - temperate climate)
Soak garlic cloves in natrakelp with water and bi carb soda over night. In the morning take off the the old skin and rub the cloves with alcohol and then plant.
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15 Jun 10, Garry (Australia - temperate climate)
Brush off any soil clinging to the bulbs. Leave the stalks and roots on the bulbs, while they dry. Allow the bulbs to cure, or dry, for three to four weeks in either a well-ventilated room or a dry, shady spot outside. Sunlight can change the flavor of fresh garlic. Once the tops and roots have dried they can be cut off.
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11 Jun 10, James (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted this years garlic and have a few left to use until the new crop is ready but they are starting to shoot. How can I stop garlic from shooting in storage.
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Showing 741 - 750 of 915 comments
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Hi, we have been growing garlic now for 5 years on a pretty small scale, about 1 acre. Have been to field days, read literature & spent too many hours looking on the net. This has to be one of the most frustrating things I have ever been involved with. Some say it is swamp plant & you can't over water, others say to let them dry out a few times as it encourages growth. Heaps of fertilizer, very little fertilizer, sandy soil is best, loam is best etc. etc. Like an earlier post let the bulb tell you, ha ha. But it is true. For our purple garlic plant in March April with mild fertilizer, we use blood & bone. We water as you would any other plant, use a moisture meter or stick you fingers in the soil to see how dry/wet it is. Occasionally top dress with b&b. Pull one out every few weeks & see what it says. One thing that is common to all advice is to not water for the last 3-4 weeks (noted when the leaves start to turn yellow & die off) as this will produce a very slimy skin not easy to work with & hard to stop rot. Again pull one up & have a look at what it's doing, it will let you know same as a citrus, potato or anything else. Just takes time to get to know it. Hope this adds to the confusion, I know I still am.

- 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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