How to Plant Garlic
This guide shows you how to plant garlic cloves in autumn, giving them the cold spell they need to form full, well divided bulbs by summer. You'll learn how to choose the right cloves, prepare the soil and get them in at the correct depth and spacing. The hands-on work takes twenty minutes or so for a full row. After that, it's just weeding and patience while the cloves settle in and root before winter.
When
Mid to Late Autumn
Difficulty
Easy
Hands-on time
20 mins
You'll need
- ✓Seed garlic
- ✓Trowel or dibber
- ✓Garden compost
- ✓Horticultural grit
- ✓Plant labels
- ✓Fleece or netting
- ✓Gloves (optional)
Dan's Tip
Don't use garlic from the supermarket. It's rarely suited to our climate and can carry disease, seed garlic from a garden centre or specialist supplier gives you a much better crop.
Step by step guide
Choose Healthy Bulbs
Pick firm, plump bulbs with no soft spots, mould or shrivelled skins. A good bulb splits into large, well formed cloves, which give you the strongest plants.
Prepare the Soil
Work in a couple of bucketfuls of well rotted compost per square metre before planting. Garlic dislikes waterlogged ground, so improve drainage on heavy soil with grit.
10 more steps, plus winter care, common mistakes, troubleshooting and FAQs
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