Growing Garlic - Frequently Asked Questions
Growing garlic is one of my favourite jobs in the vegetable garden. It is pretty much trouble free to grow and adds wonderful flavours to our home cooking. Homegrown garlic comes in a wide range of varieties, with subtle differences in taste and strength giving a much broader choice than the standard shop-bought bulbs.
I thought you might be interested in some answers to questions we are frequently asked on the Quickcrop site which I hope you will find helpful if you are interested in growing this very rewarding crop.
Does garlic only grow in hot countries?
Garlic grows just fine in cooler climates like Ireland and the UK though many people assume it is only a Mediterranean crop. Garlic does need to be planted in full sun but there are varieties that are bred specially for colder, more Northerly gardens.
There is also some evidence that garlic adapts to local conditions. Keep the best of your garlic cloves for use as seed garlic next year to produce your own personal strain perfectly suited to your garden!
Primor Garlic Bulbs
View ProductCan I plant garlic bought in the supermarket?
Technically you can but with the following words of caution: Shop-bought varieties can carry disease which may affect later crops, so it is best to use certified disease-free seed garlic.
You may also find white shop-bought varieties were grown in much warmer parts of the world and won't be well suited to your climate.
What is Elephant garlic?
Elephant garlic is not actually true garlic, but is technically a variety of leek. Bulbs look very similar to garlic but are very large; one clove of elephant garlic can weigh the same as a full bulb of normal garlic. Flavour varies from mild to strong - the cloves are particularly delicious roasted.
Elephant Garlic - A Mild Giant Garlic for roasting
View ProductWhen do I plant garlic?
Autumn planted garlic grows larger bulbs. It stands to reason I guess, as the bulbs are in the ground for longer than the spring planted varieties. The time for Autumn planting is September until early December (weather permitting). Garlic can also be planted in the spring - but make sure you use a variety suitable for spring planting.
Why does garlic need to be planted in cold weather?
Garlic needs 30-60 days exposed to temperatures of 1-10 degrees celsius for the single clove you planted to form a bulb of new cloves. If the bulbs are planted too late in the spring (when it's too warm) they may grow as one single large clove.
French Sabadrome Garlic Bulbs
View ProductDo I plant garlic direct in the ground?
Provided you have a well-drained site, garlic is planted straight into your garden soil. If you have a heavy clay soil which is prone to waterlogging in winter, grow garlic in raised beds to avoid cloves rotting in the ground.
If you don't have raised beds you can also sow garlic in modules or small pots, which can then be planted in their final positions next spring. Keep module-sown garlic outdoors to expose them to low temperatures, but move to a cold frame or unheated greenhouse if hard frosts are expected.
Can I plant all the cloves in a bulb of seed garlic?
Yes, but the size of the cloves will affect the size of the finished bulb. I would avoid the skinny ones at the centre of the bulb and only use the more plump cloves from around the outside. Avoid any that look soft or damaged, as they may harbour disease.
Which way up do I plant a garlic clove and at what depth?
Plant garlic with the flat end of the clove facing down: this is where the roots will emerge from. Plant up to 10cm deep on light soils, but shallower on heavy soils with at least 2.5cm of soil covering the bulb.
What are the recommended planting distances for garlic?
Recommended optimal spacing when planting out is 17cm all round or 10cm between cloves in rows 25cm apart. I use my Gro Grid D planting mat, which has a spacing of 15cm all round and produces excellent size bulbs. Using the Gro Grid means you will have minimum weeding to do: which is an advantage with shallow-rooted garlic, as heavy hoeing can damage roots.
Gro Grid Planting Mat 'D' For Onions & Garlic
View ProductDoes garlic need to be fed?
Garlic does well with an application of potash when planting. If you burn wood in an open fire, stove or have a garden bonfire, you can work the fresh ash into the soil when planting. Do not use turf or coal ash.
Avoid adding fresh manure when planting; garlic is happy with a moderate level of soil fertility. An application of well-rotted garden compost or Envirogrind is ideal. If you have an acid soil, add lime to raise the pH.
When do I harvest garlic?
Garlic is harvested mid to late summer when the leaves start to turn yellow. Unlike onions, do not wait for the foliage to fall over. You are better off harvesting garlic too soon rather than too late, as bulbs can shatter or sprout if left too long.
The bulbs can be deeper than you expect, so lift carefully with a fork. Once lifted handle gently, as bruised or damaged specimens won't store well.
Messidrome Seed Garlic
View ProductHow do I store garlic?
Dry garlic for 7 to 10 days outside, preferably in a warm, sunny position. If conditions aren't suitable use a greenhouse, polytunnel or a south-facing porch with plenty of ventilation. Stalks can be plaited to produce a very attractive braid, which should keep for 6-12 months if hung in a dry frost-free position.
Where can I buy seed garlic for home growing?
I thought you'd never ask! From us of course! We stock a broad range of bulbs both for autumn and spring planting.
