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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16 Jan 12, Bec wilson (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Barbara we have a small garlic bussiness in Alexandra in victoria and have been growing for five years I am interested in growing some different varieties this year.Have you got any seed for sale if so what varieties and how much is it.Thanks for your time regards Bec W
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21 Aug 11, Janis (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HI, just wondering if anyone has garlic seeds for sale or know where I may purchase some? Kind Regards Janis
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06 Apr 09, David (Australia - temperate climate)
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.
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30 Mar 09, emma (Australia - temperate climate)
Barbara, would love to know where you can source the "Pearls of Life" garlic. There only appears to be a supplier in the US.
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27 Mar 09, Colleen Beattie (Australia - tropical climate)
Hi I want to grow garlic in foam boxes or pots to take advantage of sun and cannot find info re optimal depth of soil below bulb. Can you help? Thanks
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20 Aug 13, Teena Knight (Australia - tropical climate)
Barbra I would love to buy some seed from you. thankyou regards Teena
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26 Mar 09, garlic grower (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
just starting out all help apprieciated
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26 Mar 09, Geraldine (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hello Garlic growers Just wondering if anyone in Sydney is planting their garlic now? Last year I didn't plant till mid April and a few in May, but on Better Homes and Gardens on Friday, they said now is the time to plant. Any tips appreciated.
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23 Mar 09, peter h (Australia - temperate climate)
avoid chinese garlic if you can, local garlic can be found at the many fruit & veg markets around the country. I know WA quarantine does not let garlic through from the east. So you have to get off the internet and get down to your local growers markets. for example Freo markets and waneroo markets in Perth. Its quite easy to find - pretty much all year round aswell.
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13 Mar 09, Barbara Burnet (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
This year 2009 has been very hot and dry. In past have always planted my beautiful organic "Pearls of Life ' around the first full moon in April.This year will wait for the first big rains and then plant immediately. Prepare soil now with good spread of blood and bone and garden lime. Select best garlic bulbs for planting whithin next 6 to 8 weeks. This garlic is first farlic of the season. Usually ready by mid October.
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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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