How to Grow Garlic in Root Pouch Grow Bags

Growing garlic in containers is one of the easiest ways to produce your own fresh garlic at home. Even if you only have a balcony, patio, or small garden, garlic grows beautifully in pots and grow bags. In Australia, garlic is usually planted in autumn and harvested in late spring, making it a perfect crop for the cooler months. In this guide, we show you how to grow garlic in Root Pouch grow bags, the best soil mix to use, and when to harvest for the biggest bulbs.

Garlic dislikes heavy, wet soil and “wet feet”. The breathable fabric and excellent drainage of Root Pouch grow bags help prevent soggy soil while allowing roots to develop naturally. This makes them ideal for growing garlic in small gardens, balconies, patios, and rooftops.

Quick Guide: Growing Garlic in Grow Bags

Plant garlic in Autumn (April–June in Australia).

Follow these simple steps:

1️⃣ Fill your grow bag with high-quality potting mix
2️⃣ Separate garlic bulbs into individual cloves
3️⃣ Plant cloves 2–3 cm deep, pointed end up
4️⃣ Space cloves about 10 cm apart
5️⃣ Place grow bags in full sun
6️⃣ Keep soil moist but well-drained
7️⃣ Harvest when leaves turn yellow in late spring

From planting to harvest takes about 8–9 months.

With a little patience, a single clove can turn into a full head of garlic in just one growing season - understand how this all happens by reading the rest of the information! Off you grow...

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Ideal Growing Conditions for Garlic

Garlic is a cool-season crop that prefers moderate temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

For best results, garlic needs:

☀ Full sun (at least 6 hours per day)
🌱 Well-draining soil
⚖ Soil pH between 6.0 and 7.0

Garlic also requires a long growing season. In Australia, it is typically planted in Autumn or early Winter (April to June) and harvested in late Spring or early Summer (November to December).

The reason for this long growing period is that garlic relies on changing day length to form bulbs. Short winter days allow the plant to establish strong roots and leafy growth. As days lengthen in spring, the plant begins forming the familiar bulb underground.

In warmer or subtropical regions where winter day length is less pronounced, garlic can sometimes produce plenty of leaves but smaller bulbs.

From clove to harvest takes around 8–9 months, so garlic is a crop for gardeners who are happy to let their pots quietly grow through the cooler seasons.

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Choose the Right Garlic Variety

There are two main types of garlic commonly grown in Australia.

Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck varieties are well suited to colder climates.

They produce a central flowering stem called a scape, which curls beautifully and is also edible. However, hardneck garlic generally does not store as long as softneck varieties.

Softneck Garlic

Softneck garlic grows best in milder and temperate climates.

This variety has a softer stem and is the type commonly braided for storage. Softneck garlic stores extremely well and is often preferred for home growers wanting garlic that lasts through the year.

Find out more about how to identify your grow zone to get the best results.

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The Best Soil Mix for Garlic in Grow Bags

Garlic thrives in fertile, well-draining soil, which is why Root Pouch grow bags work so well.

Start with a high-quality potting mix that complies with Australian Standards (look for the red ticks on the bag). This ensures a balanced blend of organic matter and nutrients. Healthy soil is key to growing garlic well. You can even create your own compost in small spaces (see our guide to Small Space Composting).

To improve the soil further you can add:

🌱 Compost 
🌱 Aged manure
🌱 Organic fertiliser

When filling your grow bag, leave about 5 cm of space at the top to make watering easier.

Because garlic grows from bulbs, it benefits from fertiliser that supports root and bulb development. Organic pellet fertilisers designed for bulb plants (such as tulips, daffodils, or hyacinths) work very well.

Mix a small amount into the top few centimetres of soil before planting.

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Planting Garlic in Root Pouch Grow Bags

Planting garlic is simple.

Separate the cloves from the bulb and plant the largest cloves for the best results. Smaller cloves can be used in the kitchen.

Plant each clove:

• Pointed end facing up
• Flat end facing down
• About 2–3 cm deep, cover over the cloves!
• Roughly 10 cm apart 

As a guide:

🪴 A 12L Root Pouch grow bag comfortably grows about 4 cloves
🪴 A 16L grow bag can grow 8 cloves

Larger grow bags can produce an even bigger harvest.

After planting, water thoroughly and keep the soil consistently moist but never waterlogged.

One advantage of fabric grow bags is that excess water drains easily, reducing the risk of rot. If using other containers, make sure they have good drainage and are not sitting in trays of water.

During the growing season, feeding once a month with a liquid organic fertiliser or a seaweed solution encourages strong bulb development.

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Harvesting Garlic

Garlic is ready to harvest when the leaves begin to yellow and dry back.

Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck varieties produce curly flower stalks called scapes in early summer.

Many gardeners remove these scapes to encourage the plant to focus energy on developing larger bulbs. After scapes appear, garlic is usually ready to harvest in about 4–6 weeks.

Softneck Garlic

Softneck garlic does not produce scapes, so harvest timing is judged by the leaves.

When around half of the leaves have turned yellow, the bulbs are usually ready to harvest.

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Drying and Storing Garlic

To harvest your garlic, gently loosen the soil and lift the bulbs from the grow bag.

Brush off excess soil but do not wash the bulbs.

Allow the garlic to cure in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area for several weeks.

You can:

• Hang them in small bundles
• Braid the leaves (for softneck varieties)
• Lay them out on a mesh rack

Once fully dry, trim the leaves and store the bulbs in a cool, dark place with good airflow.

Properly cured garlic can last many months in storage.

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Growing Garlic in Small Spaces

Garlic is one of the most rewarding crops you can grow at home. With Root Pouch grow bags, even gardeners with limited space can enjoy a productive garlic harvest.

A few grow bags on a balcony, courtyard, or sunny patio can produce plenty of garlic for the kitchen — and there’s nothing quite like pulling a freshly grown bulb from the soil.

Happy planting! 🌱

Garlic growing in Root Pouch grow bags on a sunny patio in Australia. Photo courtesy of C. Simmons

By following these tips and tricks, you can ensure that your garlic grows healthy and strong, and that you have a bountiful harvest to enjoy. Happy planting!