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

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28 Sep 13, Chantel Fourie (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
You can order online from Livingseeds.co.za
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03 Nov 13, Shumani (South Africa - Humid sub-tropical climate)
I have loose garlic cloves for sale. Where can I sell these?
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16 May 13, chanel (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
We live in Kokstad which is perfect for the garlic, cold, dry, snow etc. Can anyone tell me if i would need to maltch the garlic, (it gets freezing and snows here) Boarder EC & KZN My first time and the shoots are doing very well!! Thanks appreciate feedback.
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21 Apr 13, Violet (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
My garlic has been in pots for 6 months. How do I know when to harvest. Does the stem have to turn brown. I live in the Southern Cape
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06 Apr 13, joseph morris (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
can you use cloves bought from supermarket as seed and how do youknow when seed is ready. where would one get seed i live in port st johns eastern cape
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09 Mar 13, Kelly (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
www.garlicgrowers.co.za
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24 Feb 13, Mah Kib (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Which type is best for Uganda, when is the best planting period, and when to harvest it? Also, is it possible to have 2 planting seasons in a single year?
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02 Feb 13, Sibusiso Mkhize (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have a 2 hector piece of land at Umbumbulu area that I would like to grow galic commecialy. I would like to know if there are organisations that can assist me with training, finance and markets?
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20 Jan 13, paul wight (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can one plant garilic in stellenbosch with sucsess and is worth while
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08 Jan 13, Paul Jonas (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to know how many plants of Garlic can you grow in hacter, and also to know how tonnes of Garlic can you harvest and also to know the approximate cost of the yeild
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Showing 151 - 160 of 163 comments
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Hi, we have been growing garlic now for 5 years on a pretty small scale, about 1 acre. Have been to field days, read literature & spent too many hours looking on the net. This has to be one of the most frustrating things I have ever been involved with. Some say it is swamp plant & you can't over water, others say to let them dry out a few times as it encourages growth. Heaps of fertilizer, very little fertilizer, sandy soil is best, loam is best etc. etc. Like an earlier post let the bulb tell you, ha ha. But it is true. For our purple garlic plant in March April with mild fertilizer, we use blood & bone. We water as you would any other plant, use a moisture meter or stick you fingers in the soil to see how dry/wet it is. Occasionally top dress with b&b. Pull one out every few weeks & see what it says. One thing that is common to all advice is to not water for the last 3-4 weeks (noted when the leaves start to turn yellow & die off) as this will produce a very slimy skin not easy to work with & hard to stop rot. Again pull one up & have a look at what it's doing, it will let you know same as a citrus, potato or anything else. Just takes time to get to know it. Hope this adds to the confusion, I know I still am.

- John

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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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