Garlic

Not only is garlic known for its many therapeutic purposes, it also tastes fantastic and is a wonderful addition to many meals -think roasted garlic in melted brie, garlic prawns and even aioli! Growing garlic is a very easy and rewarding process, but you’ll need patience as it can take up to 8 months to mature. Purchase garlic bulbs from your local nursery to ensure they’re virus and disease free. You can purchase two types of garlic: hard or soft neck. Hard neck varieties are better suited to cool to cold areas, while soft neck grows best in warm temperate climates.

Full sun

Regular watering

Well drained

Suitable for all climatic zones.

You can harvest garlic in the summer, 7 to 8 months after planting and when the tips start to brown

Autumn planting allows enough time for plump bulbs to develop before warm weather arrives.

How to grow garlic in a garden

Choose a sunny spot in the garden and enrich the soil by digging in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver and Plant Fertiliser.
Separate the individual cloves and push these into holes 2cm to 5cm deep and 10-20cm apart, ensuring the clove is pointy end up. Water in well and mulch lightly with an organic mulch, like sugarcane or pea straw.
Water regularly throughout the growing season to keep soil moist, but not wet – you don’t want the bulbs to rot!
Feed twice in winter with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver and Plant Fertiliser. Once spring hits and the weather warms, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food.
To harvest, wait until the flower has browned and died, then using a small trowel, gently lift from underneath and pull on the stem.

How to grow garlic in a pot

Choose a pot that is at least 30-40cm in diameter. Position in a sunny spot and fill with Yates Potting Mix with Dynamic Lifter.
Separate the individual cloves and push these into holes 2cm to 5cm deep and 10-20cm apart, ensuring the clove is pointy end up. Water in well.
Water regularly throughout the growing season to keep soil moist, but not wet – you don’t want the bulbs to rot!
Feed twice in winter with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver and Plant Fertiliser. Once spring hits and the weather warms, feed weekly with Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food.
To harvest, wait until the flower has browned and died, then using a small trowel, gently lift from underneath and pull on the stem.

Growing tips

Garlic is happiest when planted in cool weather. Autumn is ideal for most zones.
Soil with a pH of around 5.5 to 7 (acidic to neutral) is ideal.
Mulch with a light open mulch to a depth of up to 10-20 cm.
After harvesting, remove soil and hang to dry out – this can take a couple of weeks.