Garlic needs a chilling period, so is best planted between late autumn and early spring.
Buy bulbs from a garden centre rather than a supermarket as they are more likely to be suited to the climate and free of disease.
Garlic grows well in open, sunny sites with well-dug soil. Before planting, dig in some well-rotted organic matter. For every square metre, add 25g of general-purpose fertiliser.
Gently break open the bulb and detach the cloves. You don’t need to peel the paper skins off.
Plant garlic in rows 30cm apart, with the cloves 10cm apart.
Push each clove gently into the soil to a depth of about 3cm, with the pointed end facing up.
Cover with horticultural fleece to stop birds pulling up the cloves.
As garlic casts no shade it can be smothered easily by weeds. Hoeing risks damaging the bulb so hand-weed where possible.
Water during dry spells, but stop watering once the bulbs are large and well-formed.
Snip off any flowers that form.
The garlic will be ready to harvest between June and August. Green leaves can be used as a garnish or in salads, but bulbs should be harvested once the leaves have turned yellow. Lift them out with a fork.
‘Top sets’ or garlic cloves may form on stalks due to changeable weather in spring. Gather and use the top sets the same as normal cloves.
After harvesting, lay the bulbs out to dry in an airy place until you are ready to use them.
- Adapted from Royal Horticultural Society advice, www.rhs.org.uk