Growing Garlic

Allium sativum : Amaryllidaceae / the onion family

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

(Best months for growing Garlic in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

  • P = Plant cloves
  • Easy to grow. Plant cloves. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 10 - 12 cm 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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07 Mar 23, Emma (Australia - tropical climate)
Good afternoon, I am trying to find a supplier for SOFT NECK GARLIC to plant in a home garden not commercial, I live in Far North QLD in the Tablelands (Dambulla). Would like some information as to time to plant or any other types of GARLIC that would grow well here. Thanking you in advance!
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10 Mar 23, Rod (Australia - temperate climate)
Emma, try Tasmanian gourmet garlic. They sell to people up here like us. If you're in Danbullah you are probably subtropical or temperate (like us at Lake Eacham). They have some great information on their website as well. Start of May is the time to plant, depending on how wet it is.
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21 Mar 23, Emma Vela (Australia - tropical climate)
Thank you ROD from Lake Eacham for your information, cheers.
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02 Mar 23, Aggie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi live in South Australia when is the best time to plant my Garlic
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03 Mar 23, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Check the guide in the garlic section for your climate.
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02 Mar 23, Elizabeth (Australia - temperate climate)
new to growing garlic. do I fertilise the soil prior or is it not necessary ? thank you =)
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03 Mar 23, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Depends on the quality of your soil now. If fairly rich no need for it. Or let them grow to say 15cm and if looking a bit weak give some fertiliser. A clinched handfull to 8-10l of water.
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29 Jan 23, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i am getting my beds ready for my garlic crop .i live on the gold coast Queensland .i will be planting first week of march .i am after glen large garlic .has anyone have any idea whare i can pick some up without the postage costs ...
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12 Feb 23, marco (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
i went to the farmers markets local ....some stall holders just sell !!! they do not know too much about the product they sell ...i did eventually find a market Gardner grower and we started chatting on garlic .....so i ended up buying italian purple garlic because they have their plot not too far from my local area. nice !! ....elephant garlic is a leek family ..so i picked up them too ....any way if u want to grow local it is worth the trouble to chat with people .at the end the outcome is greater reward when you go home with what u want ...ps,i also ended up with tomato from italy ...so i dry them use the seed ....they smell fantastic ....
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15 Dec 22, Keith Moses (Australia - temperate climate)
I have just purchased some garlic which is sprouting shoots. As it is december in Brisbane, is there any point in planting these cloves?
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Showing 21 - 30 of 575 comments
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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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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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