Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      P P P            

(Best months for growing Garlic in Australia - tropical 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for Australia | for all countries
09 May 18, Brenton (Australia - temperate climate)
I am also in Adelaide, and wanting to try Garlic. Hopefully you will still get this (as it's been over 12mths since you posted). Being in Adeliade, may I ask when you plant/harvest, and any other ideas that may assist me (ie glass house/ in the open/ type of fertilizer if used - natural (cow/horse/chicken etc), and any other tips you would suggest. Regards.
Reply or Post a new comment
15 Jul 08, Glenyss Richardson (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes, hobbfarm I would love some corms/bulbs/ cloves or whatever garlic plant. It is great of you to offer. Australian garlic is best and not always easy to find. Thank you, glenyss r
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Jul 08, firsttimegardner (Australia - temperate climate)
Sooo if you plant garlic in July it wont grow? are the rules for planting them in certain months hard and fast or can you get away with a couple of weeks here or there? Mind you i should have started last month, but now its towards the end of July... should i not bother?
Reply or Post a new comment
20 Jul 08, Chris (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi firsttimegardner. Garlic planted in July should grow ok. It apparently grows best with a few weeks cold to get it started. If you're planting it into spring you could pop it in the fridge (not freezer) for a couple of nights to arrange some chilling. These planting dates are a general guide and prompt to action, certainly not hard and fast rules.
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Jul 08, wayne (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Glenyss Richardson I still have a couple of bulbs left please tell me a postal address so I can send. They are starting to shoot so get them in quick
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Jul 08, garliclover (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi there, can you grow garlic all year round, so you have an all year round supply? Is there a type of garlic (Australian) that is easier to grow than others? Also, if I planted some bulbs now, when would they be ready?Thanks for you knowledge...
Reply or Post a new comment
09 Aug 08, Chris N (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Oooh, does anyone still have any garlic left. I am perfectly will ing to pay for them. I have tried absolutely everywhere to find Australian garlic, but to no avail. (we are now in early august). I would really appreciate it. Thanks
Reply or Post a new comment
21 Aug 08, Kylie (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
We have put in about a 1/4 acre of Australian White garlic after successfully trialing some last year. We are growing it organically which means hand weeding and mulching with four kids in tow in the middle of winter. We plant in early May and harvest when only a few green leaves are left, the others having turned brown. We didn't fertilise and had great size cloves so we were lucky. I've heard it can be very site specific. We'd be happy to sell mail order bulbs come Dec/Jan when we harvest. If anyone knows of an effective dab-on organic herbicide please let us know, or if you have detailed info on how meticulous the weeding has to be, as the sites I've read say garlic does not compete well with weeds. The mulching really helped with the weeds last year and we found we didn't need to water as the mulch kept the moisture in (we have a nice wet block which also helps).
Reply or Post a new comment
07 Sep 08, Jaci (Australia - temperate climate)
I have some garlic growing well (I think) in my semi-shaded vegie garden. I planted them in late April this year and all the shoots are pointing up nicely right now. They are different thicknesses, so predict that I will have some bulbs that are much smaller than others. My question to put out there is; how should I best store my bulbs? When the tops yellow off and I harvest say 20 bulbs, and use about 1 bulb per week, would they last me the 5 months I'd have them for? Can they be stored within any medium to keep them longer (like dry sand)? Or just the dark?
Reply or Post a new comment
22 Sep 08, SUE G (Australia - tropical climate)
CAN GARLIC BE GROWN IN TOWNSVILLE QLD? WOULD IT BE BEST TO REFRIGERATE FOR A FEW DAYS AND PLANT EARY DRY SEASON SO IT GETS THE COOL NIGHTS IN MAY?
Reply or Post a new comment
Showing 11 - 20 of 908 comments
See comments for all plants

I planted early last year and lost most of my crop early on because it was too hot. This year I planted mid April and apart from having to shade the crop a couple of days the temperature is perfect. The crop is looking great and growing fast. I'd be thinking you may need to experiment as well as hope nature doesn't decide to play games with the seasons. You might next year consider staggering 2 bulbs every 2 weeks for say 6 weeks and recording the results. That way the following year you should nail it. Good luck and keep trying. Determined gardeners eventually find the sweet spot.

- mick

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 Gardenate 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 Gardenate and subscribe to the free Gardenate planting reminders email newsletter.


Home | Vegetables and herbs to plant | Climate zones | About Gardenate | 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. 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.
We cannot help if you are overrun by giant slugs.