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

31 Oct 09, Julie (Australia - temperate climate)
My garlic is falling over and starting to yellow. But it still hasn't developed separate cloves. If I stop watering, will this help the cloves to develop? I am aware of the perils of over-watering at maturity, but I wouldn't say these are mature.
29 Oct 09, Barb Burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hello from "australian golden garlic" ' the pearls of life' My garlic grown down near warrnambool victoria is beautiful. weather being cold and wet. ( must protect plants from wind ) I have used corrugated roofing iron. All plants will be pulled next week. Seed garlic are plump and hard. Have sold a few bundles of fresh green real garlic at P.Fairy and next week Dunkheld . People like it very much. good luck
08 Feb 17, Michael (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Barb, when do you plant, I am in Grassmere Victoria,Any tips for good bulbs? regards, Michael.
28 Oct 09, John (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi I live in the SW of WA. My garlic is sending out shoots from the growing plants , that should be harvested in November. Pulled one apart and seems that the immature bulbs are shooting. Help!
21 Oct 09, John B (Australia - temperate climate)
First go at growing garlic - it now has a good healthy looking stem about 30 - 40cm high. How does one know when it is ready to harvest?
06 Oct 09, Blinky and Tina (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
We are first home owners and we have a great garden to grow stuff. we have been successful so far. How ever we love garlic and can not get our hands on any seeds or bulbs to grow our own garlic. Where can we get it and how do you grow it?
01 Oct 09, Skety (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Dee, I've been growing garlic for about 40 yrs and I only plant it to the depth of 3/4 of the the clove and I have always had good results, cheers.
24 Sep 09, Simone Stewart (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Dee, onions are usually grown in this way, but not garlic. Here on the Stedi - Ridge farm in northern NSW, we grow certified organic Garlic, which is usually planted approx 2in deep. Well must dash, we are harvesting at the moment.
20 Aug 09, Dee hasell (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
my husband recently planted garlic while i was busy doing something else, I glanced at the garlic a week later it is shooting well, but he has not covered the cloves up, they are just sitting quarter of the way in the soil. I thought that strange, he assures me thats how to plant garlic. Is he correct:?
11 Aug 09, Barbara Burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
weather in sth west victoria has been wet and cool.and windy. My Pearls of life are standing nearly two feet high. Folier spray once every 10 days, fish emulsion ,worm castings organic lifter.all in liquid form. The weeds are loving it also. But they ae protecting the garlic from those Northerly winds. Good luck to all.
Showing 801 - 810 of 908 comments

You could certainly try planting now, the sooner the better because garlic needs to go through the cold to get a decent size to it. The plants are totally unaffected by frosts down to at least -12°C which is what we get here in July. Just for your information, I usually plant garlic late March for a November harvest. In Goulburn you could probably wait until April/May. Good luck with it.

- Ray S

Please provide your email address if you are hoping for a reply


All comments are reviewed before displaying on the site, so your posting will not appear immediately

Gardenate App

Put GardenGrow in your pocket. Get our app for iPhone, iPad or Android to add your own plants and record your plantings and harvests

Planting Reminders

Join 60,000+ gardeners who already use GardenGrow and subscribe to the free GardenGrow planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About GardenGrow | Contact us | Privacy Policy

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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.