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 USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • P = Plant cloves

September: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

October: Garlic can overwinter. Cover with a good layer of mulch . In areas where frost persists into March/ April, expect to harvest your garlic in June/July.

  • 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 Jun 19, (New Zealand - temperate climate)
If you want to check it 3 times a day to see if the soil is moist enough.
23 Jun 19, Meredith Wardlaw (Australia - arid climate)
What is the best way to test if moist enough?
28 Aug 19, Jules Sturm (New Zealand - temperate climate)
With all plants this method works & I'm not being sarcastic. Poke your finger 1- 3cm into soil & if soil sticks to your finger then it it moist .the old saying and rule of thumb is a thumb & & and a thumb nail ...that's a little bit of dirt left on your finger ....
13 Jun 19, Michael Archer (Australia - temperate climate)
Well, I thought that the little clove of garlic that I plucked 2 weeks ago was a bit odd, but today 13th June another fully matured single clove. Planted in early March . The rest look good and on time I think
07 Jun 19, James Agius (Australia - temperate climate)
hi my name is jim I live in cairns far north qld can i grow garlic now in june
10 Jun 19, (Australia - tropical climate)
yes
09 Jun 19, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Hi Jim, have a look at this page https://www.gardenate.com/plant/Garlic?zone=4
02 May 19, Lou (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi this is my second year growing garlic. This years crop the above ground green is going yellow. Is there something I maybe lacking in fertiliser or lime. Thanks in advance Cheers Lou
12 May 19, David Warland (Australia - temperate climate)
Gday Lou, could be a few things, Nitrogen of course, but, it could well be magnesium, trace elements etc. Get a pH test done on you soil, garlic like most veggies like acidic soil, I aim for 6.5 in my garlic beds. Is your soil well draining ? Try some blood and bone and add some extra magnesuium Sulphate, (epsom salts).If your pH is too high, you must lower it, or risk poor or no crop.
07 May 19, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Probably lacks nitrogen
Showing 301 - 310 of 915 comments

If you're planning to sell fresh produce at maybe a market or to restaurants, it would be better (faster) to start with veggies that mature faster, like lettuce and radishes. Garlic takes a long time to mature and they cannot be grown successfully for continued harvest throughout the year. I'd start with lettuce especially, because they can grow and produce for most of the year and restaurants use them daily... Also maybe basil, because it is a popular herb that is bought fresh frequently. When you have that going, you can start with tomatoes, which take a bit longer to harvest, but they are easy to propagate and always in demand. Plan properly and focus on something that is simple, quick and for which you have a market close to home, figure out how to do that well and produce enough to start generating income and you can build it up from there. Good luck! :)

- May

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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. Gardenate 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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