The basics

Here you will find a quick reference guide on how to grow garlic.

For more detail on cultivation of specific varieties, please refer either to our growing guides
included with every purchase of "garlic for planting" or the chapter on growing your own
garlic in 

The Garlic Farm Cookbook

.

Garlic is very easy for the amateur gardener to grow yet at the same time provides much
pleasure for the experienced green fingers. The best starting point for good results is selecting
the best planting stock. We provide a range of different varieties for you to experiment with at
home. All our garlic for planting is cultivated to suit UK growing conditions. The planting times
for different varieties will differ slightly so for optimum results it is best to follow the specific
growing instructions for the variety you have selected. This guide will give you a rule of thumb.

When to plant

As a general rule, garlic needs to be in the ground before the last frost. Whether you are
planting an autumn or spring variety, it is better to plant earlier rather than later to ensure the
plant experiences the cold weather necessary for the plant to vernalise. Some spring planting
varieties can be planted up to April, but most varieties fair best if planted before December.

Where to plant

Garlic loves the sun so choose the sunniest position for good results. Garlic will grow well in
most fertile soils. Ideally soil should be well draining but moisture retaining and not too acidic.
Soil should be well aerated by frequent hoeing and should always be well watered from spring
to about two weeks before harvest.

How to plant

Turn over the soil to at least a spade's depth and create a fine layer of topsoil. Break the bulb
into cloves, discarding any unhealthy looking specimens. The cloves should be planted root
down, pointed tip up so they can be covered with at least 3-4cm of loose soil. You can either
make individual holes for the cloves or draw out a furrow. Spacing should be 15cm apart for
large cloves or 10cm apart for smaller cloves. Draw the soil over the cloves to cover them
completely but make sure the soil is not too compacted.
Cloves can also be planted in containers or pots. Allow 4 cloves per 15cm pot.

Tending to your crop

About two months after planting you will see the green shoots of the cloves emerging. Autumn
planting will be slower to emerge than spring. All you need to do is keep the area weed free
and well watered from March onwards until one or two weeks before harvest. In February you
could work in some sulphate of potash at a rate of 100g per square metre.

Scapes: If you are growing hardneck varieties, you may notice a scape emerging from the
leaves of the plant in early summer. It is a bud which pushes out from the stem of the garlic
then curls at the top. It is best to cut off the scapes as they appear to maximise your bulb size.
If you leave the scapes to develop they will take energy away from the bulb.
(Scapes are delicious stir fried in olive oil then sprinkled with salt)

When to harvest

For softneck varieties it is best to harvest once at least half the crop stems have drooped to
one side. For hardneck varieties (which do not droop) wait until 30% of the leaves have
started to go brown. Lift you garlic carefully from the ground by pulling gently on the stem.
Brush off the excess dirt then leave to dry either out in the garden if it is sunny or in a
glasshouse or any sunny position. For the best keeping quality, it is best to make sure your
garlic is well dried. You can then brush off the outer skins to reveal the beauty of the bulb. If
you leave the stems on you may wish to try plaiting or grapping the bulbs.

Storage

The best place to store garlic is in a dry warmish environment. Hanging in your kitchen is fine.
Never put garlic in the fridge as this will encourage it to sprout.

Purchase your garlic for growing from September onwards. Click here to select your bulbs.