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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17 Jan 20, pierre visagie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
can i plant garlic in tunnels. what rime of year. watering intervals.
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21 Jan 20, anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Read the top of the page for planting times. Water today and tomorrow stick you finger into the soil 75 mm, if your finger is wet then you don't need to water. Small waterings to start with and then increase it as the plant grows.
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16 Oct 19, Khomotso (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I grow garlic in tunnels and what will I need to harvest successfully
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14 Nov 19, anon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Suggest you read all the notes here about growing it, especially the calendar when to plant.
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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 .
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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
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08 Oct 18, Amanda (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can i plant in December am from Mpumalanga
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24 Oct 18, Christo (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Rather not it is to hot that time of year best to start planting between Feb and Apr.
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13 Sep 18, (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can venda in limpopo b suitable for garlic?
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25 Aug 18, Edward Shayne Solomon (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
When do i plant garlic.Iam in St Helena Bay Western Cape
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Showing 41 - 50 of 163 comments
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It's best to plant hardneck garlic in zone 6B from the middle to late October or even early November. The key is you want it to be cold, consistently below 45°, at least every night time. The first freezing encounter triggers garlic to start producing roots and that would determine how healthy and large the plants grow. Keep in mind freezing above ground may not equal freezing below ground. If you plant it in too warm a time, like early October, it may stunt the growth. It may even rot the garlic if it's wet too long. You may be able to accelerate the process by keeping in the refrigerator for a few weeks I'm not even know people who have kept it in the freezer for a few days or longer hopefully triggering root growth. I haven't tried that so I don't know.

- Rich

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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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