Garlic

Overview

Garlic – Allium sativum                                                         Rotation group - Roots

Garlic is one of the oldest vegetables grown by man it has been around since at least Roman times, and there is evidence to support that was being grown for a long time before then. It has never been more popular that it is now and no allotment garden is complete without a couple of rows planted across it. It is ready to harvest by mid-summer and will keep well into the new year.

There are two types of garlic the soft neck and the hard neck. The soft necks have the longer storage life and can be identified by having a soft papery stem near the top of the bulb. The hard necks produce a hard, smooth green flowering spike these must be cut as soon as possible (see aftercare). The soft necks will not produce a flowering spike and the bulbs are smaller than those of the hard necks. The hard neck types are considered to have the best flavour.

Varieties to choose (sold by Kings):-

• Carcassonne Wight (hardneck) – new to the market. This is an exceptional pink cloved variety which has shown great vigour in the UK climate.
• Solent Wight AGM (softneck) – this variety produces large white bulbs. A aroma and bouquet without compare – giving excellent length and strength.
• Tuscany Wight (softneck) – this large white garlic is a late type. Widely grown in Tuscany where it suits warmer summers and cooler winters.

How to grow

Sow/Plant

Garlic is grown from cloves which are the individual segments of a bulb. Try to plant garlic as soon as possible after the bulbs are delivered. Do not break up the bulb until you are ready to plant out. There are usually ten cloves to a bulb.

Winter garlic:

Plant out during October – November but avoid planting out when the soil is cold and wet.

Spring garlic:

Plant out from mid - February to mid – March.

Plant the bulbs at 2ins/5cms deep with 12ins/30cms between the plants and 12ins/30cms between each row.

Growing on

It is important to grow on a fresh site each year to avoid the build-up of soil borne onion diseases. Don’t water the garlic it will ruin the flavour. If the soil has been well prepared and contains plenty of organic matter it will be fine.

Aftercare

Keep the soil between the plants weed free and remove any flower shoots called scapes as soon as they appear. The scapes can be used in salads or for cooking.

How to Harvest

The garlic will be ready for lifting around mid-summer. Dig them up don’t pull them up when about 50% of the foliage has lost its greenness and looks the same colour as straw. Dry the bulbs out in the sun or take them inside a greenhouse to dry if the weather is wet. After they have spent a few days drying off the can be hung up in a cool frost free shed until they are needed. It is tempting to select and save some of the healthiest looking bulbs to replant for next season but garlic has a reputation for carrying diseases and it is safest to buy fresh clean stock in each year.

Issues

Garlic is a member of the allium family and suffers from the diseases that affect onions.

Onion white rot is the biggest problem. It occurs in high humidity and if the t soil is too rich avoid over feeding the soil and keep the garlic bed out of the onion bed rotation.