Plant profile
Garlic
Allium sativum
Garlic is grown from individual cloves and needs the right variety and planting season for the local climate. Harvest signs are more reliable than a fixed number of days.
- Grows well in
- Tropical, Subtropical, Temperate, Cool / mountains, Arid / inland, Mediterranean
- Lifecycle
- Annual bulb crop grown from cloves
- Light
- Full sun
- Mature size
- Usually about 30–60 cm tall while actively growing, with each plant forming one underground bulb.
- Spacing
- Plant cloves about 10–15 cm apart, with roughly 20–30 cm between rows.
- Growth habit
- Upright bulb crop producing a cluster of flat leaves from a single clove before forming a multi-cloved bulb underground.
- Native range
- Central Asia to north-eastern Iran
- Natural habitat
- Temperate habitats in its native range; garlic is now spread worldwide through cultivation.
When to plant
Tropical
March–April
Subtropical
March–April
Temperate
March–June
Cool / mountain
April–June
Arid inland
March–May
Mediterranean
March–June
Planting
Use healthy seed garlic from a reliable source and choose a variety suited to your climate and day length. Plant the largest firm cloves point-up in full sun and well-drained soil. Warm districts may need day-neutral or locally adapted cultivars; some growers pre-chill planting stock.
Position and light
Full sun with good airflow.
Soil
Loose, fertile and very well-drained soil, roughly neutral to slightly acidic. Compost is useful, but avoid large amounts of fresh manure or strong nitrogen at planting.
Watering
Keep soil moist while leaves are growing, without making it soggy. Reduce watering as bulbs mature and foliage begins to yellow; harvest is best in dry conditions.
Feeding
If the bed was well prepared, wait until plants are growing strongly before feeding. Use light feeds during leaf growth and avoid heavy nitrogen once bulbing is underway.
Pruning
No routine pruning is needed. Hardneck types may produce scapes that can be harvested, but not all garlic does.
Harvest
Maturity varies by cultivar. Start checking when lower leaves yellow or plants begin to bend. Dig around a bulb or lift a test plant; mature bulbs should have distinct cloves under intact wrappers.
Propagation
Replant healthy cloves from well-grown bulbs or buy fresh seed garlic. Rotate garlic and other alliums through the garden where practical.
Common problems
Bulb rots, aphids, thrips, rust and poor bulb formation can occur. Poor drainage, unsuitable varieties and badly timed planting are common causes of disappointing crops.
Safety notes
Garlic is toxic to dogs and cats in significant amounts. Keep bulbs and garden waste away from pets that may eat them.
Worth knowing
The biggest healthy cloves generally make the strongest plants and largest bulbs. Garlic grows best with little competition around the bulbs, so keep the bed clear while plants are young.
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