Autumn and Winter Garlic

Garlic grows well in the UK and benefits from cloche protection only during prolonged periods of harsh weather.

Garlic cloves are best planted in the autumn and winter during the months of  September, October, November and December. Spring sowings are also possible but tend to produce lower yields as garlic needs around 4 - 8 weeks of low temperatures in order to clove up and form good sized bulbs.

Softneck and Hardneck Garlic

Garlic is classified into two distinct types, softneck garlic and hardneck / topsetting garlic. All hardneck garlic and some softneck garlic produce a seed stalk which should be removed to encourage larger bulb formation, otherwise the treatment and planting times for both types is the same.  If left on the seed stalks will develop small garlic bulbs called bulbils which can be planted. These will germinate and if left to grow will form a single small round clove in the first year and then develop into a normal garlic bulb the following year.

Spring Garlic or Garlic Greens

Bulbils and any small unusable cloves you have left over can be planted densely and will sprout if kept well watered. These young garlic plants resemble spring onions and can be eaten raw or added to most dishes where garlic is normally used. This is an excellent way of ensuring an all year round crop of fresh garlic greens. Plant the bulbils as they form in early summer from your crop of garlic. Throughout the year as you use your stored garlic harvest plant any small unusable cloves. These will sprout and can be used as garlic greens. Keep covered with cloches over winter to enjoy a year round crop of fresh garlic greens.