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I should have written this weeks ago.  In this part of the world the garlic is traditionally planted on Christmas Day or New Year’s Day depending on who’s tradition you listen to.  However with the weather being a tad unsettled there’s been a delay.

Today though, no excuses the garlic went in at last.  Alright I got a bit cold but the weather was fine for the garlic.

How to Grow Garlic

Garlic is a reliable, easy crop to grow in many climates, though wild in the Mediterranean it is even farmed as far north as Scotland.  It’s great because its easy to store and can be used throughout the year as it is a regular ingredient in so many meals.  In the Mediterranean plant garlic around Christmas and in colder climates plant it in Autumn or early spring.

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  Rich soil for the garlic

  Garlic loves rich soil but will grow pretty much anywhere really so long as it gets some rain and the soil is free draining.  If you can incorporate plenty of manure or compost a few months before planting, your garlic bulbs will be all the bigger and better for it.

• You can purchase your garlic bulbs from a vegetable seed / plant supplier but personally I find it more economical to plant those bought from a grocers.  Once you’ve bought your first supply you should be able to plant from your own crop in subsequent years for future years of free garlic.
• Pull the bulbs apart into individual cloves and plant in shallow holes so the top pointy bit is only just covered in soil.  Generally planting with a fist size spacing (10 cm) between cloves should be fine, allowing each clove space to develop into a large bulb.
• Garlic doesn’t like too much competition so keep the plot weeded particularly when the plants are small.
• Garlic doesn’t like too much water either – but if you’re somewhere dry like Catalunya you will have to provide some water for the crop.  We find a good soak every other morning is often necessary from May/June.  As the bulbs form during the later period of growth this is when you really want to make sure they get enough water to ensure big juicy cloves are created.
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  Garlic in store from 2008 harvest

  Harvest the garlic once the leaves have died back.  In the UK this is likely to be at the end of summer, early autumn but here in Catalunya we harvest the garlic in June/July.  Fork the bulbs out of the ground putting by any you damage to be consumed first.  Damaged bulbs shouldn’t be put into storage as they’re likely to spoil.

• The garlic must be dried for a few days to ensure it will store well.  If you can leave in the sun to dry, if not under cover will have to do but may take a bit longer.  You want the outer skins to be papery, and well, just like the bulbs you’d buy in the shops.
• Once the bulbs are dry tie bunches together and hang somewhere cool, dry and airy.  They should keep until you harvest next year’s batch, but do keep an eye on them.  If the bunches are too crowded or get too moist you may find rot setting in.  As always with stored veg remove any damaged, rotten bulbs asap to prevent the whole crop spoiling.  We find bunches made by tying ten bulbs together about right for letting the air get to them.

So as you can see growing garlic is easy and if you use it in your cookery its worth having your own.  The initial purchase of bulbs in the first year is offset by the amount of garlic you can grow indefinitely.  Don’t forget too, that if you’ve planted too closely you can eat the thinnings (treat as scallions / spring onions) raw or cooked too.  And, if you’re really out to impress, why not make garlic pickle. It’s a great way to use of excess mature bulbs or the green young garlic before they split into individual cloves.

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