How to grow Garlic in Australia

Plant individual cloves pointed end up in a sunny spot with loose, free-draining soil rich in organic matter. Space cloves about 15cm apart and keep beds weed-free, as garlic hates competition.

At a glance

Difficulty: Intermediate
Sun: Full sun
Water: 3 litres a week, watered every 3 days
Spacing: 15 cm
Time to harvest: 210 days
Time to germinate: 18 days
Soil pH: 6 to 7.5
Frost tolerance: Frost hardy

When to sow by region

Region	When to sow	Regional note
South East Queensland	March to May
Northern Rivers NSW	March to May
Sydney & Coastal NSW	March to May	Sydney's winter chill (Mar to May planting) yields quality bulbs; later than SEQ baseline.
Melbourne & Victoria	March to June	Plant cloves Mar to Jun. Melbourne's cool winter ideal for garlic; needs 8+ weeks cold.
Adelaide & SA	March to May	Mediterranean: sow Mar to May only. Garlic planted as cloves Apr to May for winter growth.
Perth & WA	March to May	Mediterranean: sow Mar to May only. Garlic planted as cloves Apr to May for winter growth.
Tasmania	March to May	Plant cloves Mar to May. Tasmania grows some of the best garlic in the country - cold winters build big bulbs. Harvest Nov to Dec.
Canberra & ACT	March to May	Garlic is ideal for Canberra (premier region); plant cloves Mar to May in autumn; Monaro Purple and Porcelain varieties thrive; harvest Oct to Nov.
North Queensland	April and May	Dry season only. Plant Apr to May. Garlic requires cool dry season for bulb formation.
Darwin & Top End	April and May	Dry season only. Plant Apr to May. Garlic requires cool dry season for bulb formation.

Varieties

Australian White
Monaro Purple
Elephant Garlic

Companion planting

Good companions

Avoid planting near

Harvest and storage

Harvest tip

Lift when the lower leaves brown but the top five or six stay green. Loosen with a fork and ease the bulbs out, then cure in a dry airy spot for a few weeks before storing.

Storage

Dry, cool, dark place in a mesh bag, up to 3 months. Freeze peeled cloves.