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

18 Mar 19, veronica (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
veronica, yes is great advice, thank you, have tried lots but all failed will give it a go next march. thanks so much
25 Feb 19, Sharon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
The easiest garlic to grow in the subtropics is Russian or elephant garlic. I find I get bigger cloves if I plant a little earlier late say lateApril/early may to give the plants a little more cold growing season Try and buy your seed garlic from a local grower for a locally adapter strain..
28 Dec 18, Manyadza (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Im in South Africa living in Olifantsfontein i want to start planting garlic in my gardern is it better to 0lant now or wait for febraury? I also want to plant garlic in Ha - kutama Muduluni when can i start to plant as is very hot now .
04 Dec 18, Bulton Naidoo (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Live in Montagu western cape it's extremely cold here until end of August wen should I plant garlic
02 Dec 18, Kia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Got some garlic cloves sprouting ready to plant in the garden. Summer here, scorching hot summer this year. Will the garlic be alright growing in the garden? I have shade cloth. Or is indoors better?
02 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
It does say plant May to July. You can try it under shade cloth if you like. Because it is not the right time to plant it may not grow very well. Research it on the internet.
30 Nov 18, Tsuska (Australia - temperate climate)
What softneck or hardneck variety of garlic is best to grow in Sydney climate?
02 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Search the internet or call a nursery or seed selling company.
04 Dec 18, Tsusa (Australia - temperate climate)
The only one I found that was mentioned Italian red (subtropical group). The only bulbs in nurseries I've been able to find so far is Australian white and red for sale. Planted Australian white last season and they don't seem to have done particularly well... maybe I'll try italian red (if i can find some) next season.
04 Nov 18, Deon Van Vuuren (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi. I'm located in Brisbane. Planted Italian white based on recommendations for the climate. Garlic grew well until a month ago. Had a massive hailstorm after a very dry period. The garlic has now created various new thin leaves. on inspecting one, it seems like the cloves has started to grow inside the bulb. I wanted to grow the garlic for seed for next year. Question is, should I harvest all the garlic and let it dry out to stop the growth and will it grow next year? Also, some cloves have not formed. Can I harvest and replant next year and will it grow?
Showing 331 - 340 of 923 comments

Hi all, I live in Port Kembla and have been growing garlic here since 1995, sourced from Hungary and being a very large variety. Prior to that I was growing up to 50,000 cloves a season in the Southern Highlands. I got into a habit of checking the previous season’s crop for the root ends to appear on the bottom of an individual clove. They start out being tiny bumps. This will start to happen when the weather tends cooler. My crop for this year’s plant is ready to go in now. Read the clove. Only it knows its time. Rich organics, B&Bone D.Lifter for best results. Twice clove depth to plant in a raised row. Water daily ok if well drained. Nothing real critical in growing garlic I find. It still grows well with none of the above. Good luck and happy growing.

- David

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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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