How to Grow
Garlic

Choose a sunny, slightly sheltered site with free-draining alkaline soil on which onions and garlic haven’t been grown for at least three years to avoid build ups of disease.

Dig over the ground to remove weeds and add plenty of well-rotted compost, which will increase nutrients and help retain moisture. Dig in some general purpose fertiliser if the soil is poor. Increase the chances of a successful crop on acid soil by adding lime to increase its pH.

Place the cloves in the soil with their tips around 2.5cm (1in) below the surface. Space them about 15cm (6 inches) apart. Keep rows around 30cm (12 inches) apart.

If the weather is particularly wet, or soil very heavy, start cloves in modules in a greenhouse or under other protection until conditions improve.

Autumn-planted garlic can be put in between October and December. The best varieties for this time of the year are ‘Early Purple Wight’ and ‘Provence Wight’.

Spring-planted garlic can go in from January. Go for ‘Solent Wight’, ‘Picardy Wight’ or ‘Lautrec Wight’.

Remove weeds, which will rob garlic of nutrients and moisture. Weed by hand rather than using a hoe to avoid damaging developing bulbs. Covering a crop with horticultural fleece will protect emerging shoots from birds. Water when the soil begins to dry, although be careful to avoid getting the leaves excessively wet to reduce the chances of fungal diseases. Stop watering when the foliage turns yellow to avoid rotting.