Other names
common garlic, softneck garlic, hardneck garlic
Botanical name
Allium sativum
Family / Genus
Amaryllidaceae / Allium
Plant category
Leek vegetables
Garlic has been a kitchen staple for thousands of years. Its flavour is indispensable for countless dishes all around the world.
It also does well as a medicinal plant. It helps prevent cardiovascular diseases by lowering blood lipid levels, including some cholesterol values. It lowers blood pressure too. It has antibacterial properties and is traditionally used to relieve cold symptoms.
Facts and figures
Light requirements
Sun
Nutrient requirements
Medium feeder
Difficulty level
Easy
Culture (according to Gertrud Franck)
B - early, B - late
Culture (according to Sister C. Weinrich)
Companion crop
Growing period
150 - 285 days
Row spacing
25 cm
Plant spacing
10 cm
Growth height
30 - 90 cm
Sowing depth
3 cm
Germination temperature (minimum)
5 °C
Germination temperature (optimal)
15 - 20 °C
Germination type
Light and dark
Planting & harvest times of Garlic
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Direct sowing
Harvest
Harvest (next year)
SpringDirect sowing from Mid February to Mid March. After a growing period of 150 days, harvest can begin around Mid July and continues until Mid August.
WinterDirect sowing from Early September to Late October. After a growing period of 285 days, harvest can begin around Mid June and continues until Late July next year.
Spring 2Direct sowing from Mid March to Mid April. After a growing period of 150 days, harvest can begin around Early July and continues until Late July.
Winter 2Direct sowing from Early October to Late October. After a growing period of 240 days, harvest can begin around Early June and continues until Late June next year.
Sow Garlic
Spring and winter: Planting cloves
Spring 2 and winter 2: Planting bulbils
You can propagate garlic either by planting cloves or by planting bulbils. Planting cloves is quicker, but the bulbs tend to stay smaller and the plants are a bit less robust. You'll use up to 20% of your harvest for planting cloves. Bulbils come free of charge. Both methods work in spring or autumn, depending on the variety.
You plant cloves either from March to April and harvest in July of the same year, or from September to October and harvest from June the following year. Those autumn-planted bulbs tend to be a bit larger than the spring ones.
When you plant bulbils, they form so-called rounds in the first year and only develop into proper bulbs in the second year. The plants are more robust and produce larger bulbs.
For spring planting, set the bulbils from early March to the end of April at a depth of 5 cm, spaced 10 cm apart if you want to leave them in the ground until the rounds have turned into bulbs. If you plan to dig up the rounds and replant them, space them 3 cm apart. With the first option, the bulbs are ready the following July. With the second option, they're ready at the same time — you just need to replant them in October at a final spacing of 10 cm.
For autumn planting in October, the spacing is the same. If you leave the rounds in the ground, the bulbs won't be ready until June two years later. If you dig them up, they're also ready two years later, but you need to replant them in the autumn of the following year.
For me, it's a clear choice to plant bulbils in spring. Whether you leave them in the ground depends on whether they can stay in the same spot the following year. Your laziness will thank you.
Location and soil
It prefers loamy, humus-rich soil in full sun. An airy spot is actually a good thing — it keeps the garlic fly away.
Good and bad companions of Garlic
Good neighbours for garlic are strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and beetroot. Planted between strawberries, it keeps spider mites away. Other alliums, peas and beans are bad neighbours.
Very good neighbours
Strawberry
Garlic between strawberry rows can clearly reduce spider mites. That it also protects against grey mould is not proven.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Scientific study or trial, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
Good neighbours
Batavia lettuce
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Beetroot
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Butterhead lettuce
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Carrot
Garlic is said to keep carrot fly away. An old companion planting pair, but a net protects the carrots more reliably.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Reasons:
- Pest control through scent or camouflage
Chilli
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Cucumber
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Dill
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Honeydew melon
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Iceberg lettuce
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Oak leaf lettuce
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Pepper
Evidence quality: limited
Evidence: Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition
Potato
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Romaine lettuce
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Tomato
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Watermelon
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Tradition agrees across several language regions
Bad neighbours
Broad bean
Garlic and beans or peas are considered bad neighbours that stunt each other's growth. The reason is not known.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Guidebooks, companion planting charts, tradition, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Bush bean
Garlic and beans or peas are considered bad neighbours that stunt each other's growth. The reason is not known.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Chives
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Garlic chives
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Leek
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Onion
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as onion fly and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Pea
Garlic and beans or peas are considered bad neighbours that stunt each other's growth. The reason is not known.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Pole bean
Garlic and beans or peas are considered bad neighbours that stunt each other's growth. The reason is not known.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Tradition agrees across several language regions
Runner bean
Garlic and beans or peas are considered bad neighbours that stunt each other's growth. The reason is not known.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented, Tradition agrees across several language regions
Shallot
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Spring onion
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pathogen, spreads through proximity
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Tree onion
Onion family plants attract the same pests, such as leek moth and allium leaf miner. Better not to plant them right next to each other.
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Shared pest is attracted or multiplies
Predecessors and successors of Garlic
Good preceding crops are legumes such as peas and beans, and also cereals and potatoes. Leave four years before you grow other alliums in the same spot. After the July harvest, lamb's lettuce or mustard work well as a green manure. Better not to sow peas straight afterwards, because garlic can carry stem nematodes.
Good predecessors
Broad bean
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Bush bean
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Chickpea
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Courgette
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Cucumber
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Honeydew melon
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Lentils
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Melothria
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Pea
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Pole bean
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Potato
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Loosens soil, improves soil structure
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Runner bean
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Soya bean
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book, Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich), Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
Reasons:
- Nitrogen release
Squash
Squash covers the soil densely and keeps weeds down. Garlic, with its narrow leaves, has an easier time afterwards.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Watermelon
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Bad predecessors
Chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Garlic
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
- Self-incompatibility
Garlic chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Leek
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Shallot
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Spring onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Tree onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Good successors
Batavia lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Broccoli
Cabbage grows especially well after alliums, as long-term crop rotation trials show.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Butterhead lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Cauliflower
Cabbage grows especially well after onion family crops, as long-term crop rotation trials show.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Iceberg lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Kale
Brassicas grow especially well after the onion family, as long-term crop rotation trials have shown.
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Lamb's lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Preliminary assessment, we're still researching.
Lollo biando / Lollo rosso
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Mustard
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Long-standing companion planting practice (e.g. Gertrud Franck, Schwester C. Weinrich)
Preliminary assessment, we're still researching.
Oak leaf lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Romaine lettuce
Lasting effect: 1 year
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Specialist book
Reasons:
- Weed suppression for the next crop
Bad successors
Chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Garlic
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
- Self-incompatibility
Garlic chives
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Leek
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Pea
Garlic can carry stem nematodes, tiny roundworms that also attack peas. Leave two years between them.
Rotation break: 2 years
Evidence quality: moderate
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book, Derived from plant family or pathogen, pair not directly documented
We found conflicting sources. This is our current assessment.
Reasons:
- Both host the same nematode species
Shallot
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Spring onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Tree onion
Onion family plants share soil fungi such as white rot, whose resting bodies survive in the soil for up to 20 years. Leave four years between them.
Rotation break: 4 years
Evidence quality: good
Evidence: Advisory service, research institute, Specialist book
Reasons:
- Shared soil-borne pathogen
- Both host the same nematode species
Care and fertilising
Garlic is a medium feeder. It appreciates a bed well enriched with compost. Watering with nettle tea or something similar does it good too. Apart from that, hoe carefully a few times, keep it weed-free, or mulch with grass clippings.
Diseases and pests
Susceptible to
Allium leaf miner
Garlic fly(high susceptibility)
Leek moth
Leek rust(high susceptibility)
Leek yellow stripe
Onion basal rot(high susceptibility)
Onion downy mildew
Onion fly
Onion thrips
Onion yellow dwarf
Purple blotch
Stem nematode
White rot
White tip
Harvest and processing
You can harvest garlic when roughly two-thirds of the foliage has turned yellow or flopped over. Push a digging fork into the soil next to the plant and carefully loosen the ground. Best done in dry weather. Let the plants dry for a few days in an airy spot afterwards — either spread them out or hang them up in bundles. Bulbs that have already split open don't store as well and should be used first. Otherwise, garlic keeps for up to 8 months in a dark, cool place like a cold cellar.
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