Imagine not having to go to a shop to buy garlic - another way to cut down your carbon footprint and have the satisfaction of growing your own produce.
Garlic needs a long growing season to do well so planting now will ensure it is ready to harvest next summer. October to December is the best time to get garlic in the ground as the cloves need a period of cold, generally preferring at least a month at 0–10°C (32–50°F) for good bulb development. There are some varieties which can be planted in spring but why wait to get garlic in the ground?
Garlic is simple to grow from cloves, rather than seed, and can even be grown in pots. If you only have a balcony space or a backdoor pot, this crop does not take up much space.
A member of the onion family, garlic loves a warm sunny site with well-drained soil so here’s what you need to know:
Garlic needs a cold period to grow successfully but if your garden suffers from wet soil conditions in winter, or is heavy clay, start individual cloves off deep in 5cm (2in) pots in multi-purpose compost. The trays should be kept in a sheltered position outdoors ready to be planted out in spring.
Garlic will grow quite happily in containers on a patio or balcony following the same general advice of planting at a depth of 2.5cm and spaced apart at 10-15cm to allow for the bulbs to swell. Use a container with at least 20cm of depth and do not plant the cloves too close to the edge. Add a specialist onion fertiliser when planting and keep the compost moist, especially during dry spells.