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 South Africa - Semi-arid 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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25 Aug 17, Nico (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I would like to know in very dry and hot climates will garlic produce if irrigated and how much water does a garlic plant needs
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23 Aug 17, Lois (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can I grow garlic near Mooi River in the Natal Midland [ Dec and Jan ave temps 27 deg and 26 deg C] We have frost in winter. Coldest month is June [ave temp 14 deg C] Should it be grown in tunnels or would shade houses suffice? We sometimes experience hail storms. ]
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17 Jul 17, Soola Thoo (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Can I put garlic gloves into soil in July/august and still be able to get harvest?
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08 Jul 17, (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Is possible to grow Galic along RichardsbBay area.If possible at what time of the year.What type of soil is the best to grow it
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12 Jul 17, Man (Australia - temperate climate)
garlic is not for july, but for February, march and april. hope I helped!
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23 Jun 17, Gregory (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Can garlic be plant in northern cape
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21 Jun 17, Johan Fernandes (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Witch cultivar (name) is the most popular one to plant? Where can i find cloves? Is Febr - March the wright time to plant? Can i buy cloves from the fresh market?
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17 Jun 17, Beverly Hartman (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where in SA can garlic bulbs for planting be bought in bulk?
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12 Jun 17, Jan van der Merwe (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Hi I am farming in Montagu western cape. Can someone please advise me whether garlic could be grown in this area and if so can i still plant for the curent season.
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24 Apr 17, Kobus (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I'm a blind person and want to plant garlic. I'm looking for as much info as possible on the cultivation of garlic, but it looks like I'm at a dead-end. I found an address on the web, but they just don't answer my mails. Where can I get information please?
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Showing 61 - 70 of 163 comments
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I generally have garlic in my compost -- little bits that have maybe rotted a bit, and I can't even imagine how they grow -- but anyhow ---- I dig kitchen scraps directly into the garden over winter. Winter here gets down to about -10c for short periods of time (several nights in a row, for half a dozen hours at a time) -- generally winter temps are closer to -3c at night. Anyhow, come spring the areas where I have dug in kitchen scraps directly into the garden are usually sprouting : potatoes and garlic (among other things). So despite that I am actually planting garlic in winter, it will not grow until spring. I also grow garlic via the two year method (collecting seeds called bulbils - planting them immediately upon collection (so fall) )-- they grow in spring -- and then next year, they grow the garlic. Depending on the TYPE of garlic you are growing you can get 60 or more bulbils from one flower -- so this is economical if you have the SPACE. Again, the garlic is overwintered directly in the garden. In my area/zone, you have to yank out garlic if you don't want it -- because it just seems to grow and grow (same thing with fuchsia and potatoes).

- Celeste Archer

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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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