Family: Amaryllidaceae
Binomial name: Allium sativum
Life Cycle: Perennial (usually grown as an annual)
Garlic varieties can be classified as hardneck or softneck. Hardneck varieties produce scapes (flower stalks), can be strong flavoured, and are better suited to cool climates. Softneck varieties do not produce scapes, are generally milder in flavour than hardneck varieties and are better suited to warm climates.
Garlic is a cool season crop. Use the table below to identify the best time of year to sow garlic in your climate.
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cool | ||||||||||||
Temperate | ||||||||||||
Sub-Tropical | ||||||||||||
Tropical | ||||||||||||
Arid |
Garlic plants are best grown in full sun. Choose a location that will receive at least 6 hours of full sun each day.
Garlic plants need a loose, well drained soil enriched with organic matter. Prepare soil by weeding it thoroughly, digging it over to at least a spade’s depth to loosen the soil, and adding aged animal manure or compost. Organic matter can be dug into heavy soil to lighten it so roots can grow freely. Keep the area free of weeds until planting. If there's any doubt about drainage, mound the soil into rows to plant into, or plant in raised beds.
Garlic cloves grow best when planted directly into the garden.
Garlic plants may need watering during the growing season. Water when the soil is dry about 5cm below the surface (test this by scratching away a little soil with your finger). Water deeply in the early morning or late afternoon. Avoid watering the leaves of plants to avoid fungal diseases. Learn more about watering here.
If soil was well prepared no extra fertiliser should be necessary. Fertilising can result in excessive leaf growth at the expense of roots forming. In poor soil use a fertiliser low in nitrogen and high in phosphorus, such as blood and bone, applied at the recommended rate.
Hardneck varieties only - Remove scapes (flower stalks) at the base when they begin to curl to encourage bulb formation.
Garlic should be ready to harvest in approximately 200-300 days.
Bulbs are ready to harvest when the foliage wilts and turns yellow and there are 4 to 6 green leaves remaining. Use a fork to gently lift the entire plant from the bed, shaking off the excess soil. Place the whole plants on wire racks or hang them in bunches, leaving them in a dry cool place for 3-10 weeks to cure. Softneck garlic can then be braided if desired. Trim the roots and stems back to 2.5cm and store in a cool dry place for up to 10 months.
Like all plants, garlic is susceptible to some pests, diseases and other problems. Below is a list of the most common problems gardeners encounter when growing garlic plants:
Available late summer to autumn.