The many years of growing garlic have taught me the importance of a couple of things, raised garden beds and soil with at least 50% of well aged organic matter. We grow all our seed garlic in 100% organic matter.

Planting time for garlic is during the month of May. New Zealand Purple on or around May 6th. We plant our Red Russian and Spanish Rojo in mid May. Ideally, soil temperature should be 10C or colder. Space cloves pointed side up, 6 inches apart and to a depth that will have 3 inches of soil cover.

If possible, cover with an inch or two of mulch which helps in keeping the moisture in the soil. Mulch also helps to insulate the soil and prevent large temperature swings. I have found that dead pine needles make an excellent mulch.

You can also be very successful growing garlic in large pots or containers filled with rich organic matter.

Rust

Rust is now everywhere in NZ and I am afraid that there is no quick fix to the problem.

Plant early, New Zealand Purple, first week of May and harvest early, first part of November. Soil should be loose with large amounts of organic matter mixed with aged wood chips preferably from deciduous trees. We grow in raised garden beds filled with pure organic matter/wood chips. If you do not have any raised garden beds then try growing a few cloves in large, movable containers filled with organic matter or potting soil. Make sure the containers have adequate drainage. This way allows you to move your containers and follow the much needed sun and sheltering).

Then it becomes a matter of fitness and a race between the garlic (hopefully healthy) to produce its bulbs before the rust (which seems to be always healthy) consumes all its leaves. Luckily, rust does not affect the garlic bulbs.

Then, as we do, cross your fingers and hope that both mother nature and the garlic gods are on your side!

Hope this all helps.