Think garlic and your thoughts probably turn to long lazy lunches by Mediterranean beaches but garlic grows really easily in our climate. In fact, this pungent plant likes nothing better than a short sharp cold snap to get it going. So what are you waiting for?
Follow our tips for a healthy crop.
 Plant your garlic from November onwards until as late as February or March. The important thing is to have a long growing season that includes a chilly period (from 0°C to 10°C) of at least a month. The traditional adage about ‘planting on the shortest day and harvesting on the longest’ isn’t far out.- Growing your garlic from the left-over cloves in your kitchen is false economy. You’re far more likely to have a successful crop by buying named varieties known to flourish in the UK and virus-free. Using supermarket garlic is less likely to work and could introduce disease.
- When you’re ready to plant, peel the outer skin from the bulb and separate the cloves, taking care not to damage them. Then plant each of them in a sunny spot, with the pointed end just below the surface.
 If you don’t have a garden, try planting each clove in compost in a 3 or 5 inch pot and popping it on a sunny windowsill. - Don’t let your garlic go thirsty but don’t drown it either. Make sure the soil around the roots is kept moist until a fortnight before you harvest it.
- Harvest when the leaves have started to go yellow and die back.
- Dry your garlic thoroughly by hanging the bulbs with the leaves attached in a warm dry place for at least three weeks.
- Store it hung plaited or bunched in a dark cool place but don’t let it get too cold or it will just start sprouting again. Stored properly these should keep for about three months.
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