holding garlic gloves

Garlic

Growing garlic is simple and harvesting fresh cloves at home can be so rewarding. Garlic is one of the oldest known and widely used food flavourings as it has been used for both food flavouring and medicinal purposes since ancient times. Garlic is believed to be a native of central Asia, South Asia or southwestern Siberia and descended from Allium longicuspis, a wild strain of Asian garlic- although there is still some debate over its origins. 

How to grow Garlic

Similarly to onions and shallots, garlic will thrive in an open position with fertile well drained soils. Garlic is best to be rotated on a minimum three year cycle to prevent the build up of soil-borne pests and diseases.

Before planting dig in some well-rotted organic matter. Plant individual cloves so the tips are 2.5cm (1in) below the soil surface. Space 15cm (6in) apart and in rows 30cm (12in) apart. We recommend protecting newly planted cloves by covering with horticultural fleece to avoid birds getting to them.