How and when to plant garlic?
Garlic is usually planted between mid-autumn and early winter, because it needs a cold spell to form a bulb. Set the cloves pointed end up, about 15 cm (6 in) apart in rows 30 cm (1 ft) apart, in a sunny spot with free-draining soil.
Cold matters
According to the RHS, most varieties need one to two months at 0–10 °C (32–50 °F) to develop a good bulb. If autumn gets away from you, some varieties are suited to planting in late winter or early spring.
Soil and planting
Good drainage matters, since wet ground encourages disease, especially with autumn planting. Clear the weeds first and dig in well-rotted compost. On heavy soil that stays wet in winter, start the cloves in modules under cover and plant them out in spring.
Garlic in pots
Garlic grows in containers too: the RHS suggests pots at least 25 cm (10 in) deep, with the same spacing as in the ground.
Care and harvest
Keep on top of the weeds and water during dry spells in spring and early summer, then stop once the bulbs have formed. Snip off any flower stems. Lift the bulbs when the leaves turn yellow and dry them somewhere airy.
In the app
Every plant in the catalogue has its own sowing calendar, and weather alerts for your area help you judge whether to sow now or hold off.
Frequently asked questions
Hardneck or softneck?
Hardneck types have fewer, larger cloves and a stronger flavour; softneck types keep for longer.
Why didn't my garlic split into cloves?
Usually because the winter wasn't cold enough.