Plant in autumn and largely forget it until summer — the cold is part of the recipe.
Care
Full sun.
Low-medium — water in dry spells in spring; stop once the leaves begin to yellow.
Well-drained soil; rots in waterlogged ground.
Snap off the scapes of hardneck garlic when they curl — they're edible and the bulb grows bigger.
A general balanced feed in early spring as growth takes off.
Plant individual cloves from certified bulbs, not supermarket garlic, pointed end up with the tip just below the surface. Garlic needs a cold spell to form a divided bulb, so autumn planting is best.
Month by month
Months change with the climate: in southern Italy tomatoes go out two months earlier than in England.
- MarchFeed and weed as growth takes off. how ›
- JuneRemove scapes from hardneck varieties.
- JulyLift when the lower leaves yellow and dry in the sun or an airy shed.
- OctoberPlant cloves 15cm apart, tips just below the surface.
Months based on climate: UK. Your choice stays on this device.
- MarchFeed and weed as growth takes off. how ›
- JuneRemove scapes from hardneck varieties.
- JulyLift when the lower leaves yellow and dry in the sun or an airy shed.
- OctoberPlant cloves 15cm apart, tips just below the surface.
Months based on climate: Northern Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryFeed and weed as growth takes off. how ›
- JuneRemove scapes from hardneck varieties.
- JulyLift when the lower leaves yellow and dry in the sun or an airy shed.
- OctoberPlant cloves 15cm apart, tips just below the surface.
Months based on climate: Central Italy. Your choice stays on this device.
- FebruaryFeed and weed as growth takes off. how ›
- JuneRemove scapes from hardneck varieties.
- JulyLift when the lower leaves yellow and dry in the sun or an airy shed.
- NovemberPlant cloves 15cm apart, tips just below the surface.
Months based on climate: Southern Italy and islands. Your choice stays on this device.
Common problems
How to spot it. Lines of white dots on leaves and distorted bulbs.
What to do. Cover with insect mesh during the moth's flight periods.
How to spot it. Orange pustules on leaves.
What to do. Usually tolerable; improve spacing and avoid excess nitrogen.
How to spot it. Single round bulb instead of cloves.
What to do. Planted too late for enough cold; plant in autumn.
Questions
Garlic: is it hardy?
H4: Hardy through an average UK winter. It survives down to −10 °C.
Can it grow in a pot?
Yes, in a deep pot of free-draining compost.
Garlic: when do you prune it?
Snap off the scapes of hardneck garlic when they curl — they're edible and the bulb grows bigger.
When do you feed it?
A general balanced feed in early spring as growth takes off. Feeding months, UK: March.