Garlic Planting & Harvest Calendar for Western Australia

Garlic in the Southern Hemisphere follows reversed seasons. For Western Australia (Mediterranean climate):

Planting

• When: Autumn (March–April), 4–6 weeks before first expected frost.
• Spacing: 6–8″ apart, 2″ deep, pointy end up.
• Cloves: Use largest outer cloves from disease-free heads.

Growing

• Mulch heavily (straw/lucerne) after planting.
• Water through winter/spring; stop 2 weeks before harvest.
• Side-dress with blood & bone at 6 and 12 weeks.

Harvest

• When: Early–mid summer (November–December), 45–60 days after summer solstice.
• Signal: Lower 3–4 leaves brown, upper leaves still green.
• Cure: 2–3 weeks in airy shade; trim roots/necks; store cool, dry.

Softneck varieties store longer; hardnecks offer scapes (edible flower stalks) in spring.