Garlic is hardy and needs a spell of cold weather. Plant it with the first frost to trigger its splitting mechanism. This encourages good roots and helps the bulbs to form.

Keys to Success with Garlic

1. Good quality Garlic sets
2. Autumn Planting
3. Good drainage
4. Fertilise during growing season

Tips for Garlic Culture

• Pick a well drained sunny spot and rake down to a fine tilth.
• Split the garlic into individual cloves – you will get about 14 cloves from a good head.
• Dibble the cloves in every 6″ covering lightly.
• Leave the plants to slowly root and shoot over winter.
• From March onward liquid feed every month.
• For bigger cloves pinch out any flower heads.
• Harvest and dry in July august as soon as the tops start to wither.
• If planting late ie February or March then leave the tip of the clove above soil level and feed and pinch out regularly.

Today I have planted a row of Cristo a strong flavoured garlic and one of Solent Wight. For information on more varieties read Top 10 Garlic
For more read Tricks to get great garlic
To buy a selection of Garlic at Thompson & Morgan click here.