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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07 Nov 09, pete (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
has anyone had any success growing garlic in the brisbane coastal area? when we lived in canberra we had lovely plump garlic. but here nothing but failure or really small bulbs. i planted from organic garlic purchased at the local fruit and veg. loathe and detest that rubbish chinese garlic.(garlic imported from China? ed.)
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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.
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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
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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.
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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!
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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:?
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Showing 811 - 820 of 919 comments
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Heres an answer for garlic, I grow about 300 plants a year and get good results with about 90% of the cloves coming in at 5cm in diameter plus. Season. Garlic takes up to 9 months to mature. Plant in autumn, late March to May, harvest November to December. Clove selection. Plant only the largest cloves, at least the size of your top thumb joint, I have big hands so I plant cloves 2- 2.5 cm across. Its easy to eat the biggest and the best, its better to plant the biggest and the best. Spacing. I plant 15 - 18 cloves per square metre, 25cm apart in rows 25 cm apart. With 30 cm + paths between 4 rows. It's easy to crowd them, and the yield in terms of weight may be much the same, but bigger garlic are a lot more fun and much easier to use in the kitchen. Sunlight. Whilst garlic can tolerate low sun during the winter months it needs 8 hours direct sunlight during the early and late growth stages. So lots of clear sky when it's maturing, September onwards. If your nutrition is right, (and soil acidity is right) then water could be the problem. While not much water is needed in winter, the ground should be kept moist through the season, especially in spring. A shallow watering is best the roots don't go down more than 30 cm max. Once to twice week during the maturing season. We cant control the weather, but avoid flooding (and applications of nutirients) during the final few weeks to lessen the chance of fungus attacks and sprouting. Garlic likes a moderate amount of lime (dolomite), you can rely on the recommended amount at least two weeks before planting and once every three years. Maturity. Look for tops fading in colour, a weakening of the stem near the base and a flattening of the top of the bulb when (gently) exposed Thats a lot and there's a lot more. It's a labour of love and a lifetime. And I'm sure others will have other suggestions, this is just a framework of what has worked for me. Planting at the moment actually. Regarding shallots most of the above also applies but Im not much of an authority. Shorter season length, but most of the above applies. I plant under the same conditions as garlic but only a few dozen and get good results.

- Ken WIlson

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