Garlic (Latin name – Allium sativum L.) is in the onion family.
The head of garlic is a bulb.
garlic-bulb
The bulb is made up of sections called cloves.
bulbofgarlic-split
cloves-of-garlic
Before planting, split the individual cloves from a head of garlic. Plant each garlic clove in an upright position, with the pointed bit at the top, & the flat rooting area at the bottom.
clove-of-garlic
The large garlic cloves in the photos above, were grown by TopVeg in 2006 from ‘nameless’ cloves imported from Holland. They were very large, very mild and have stored very well.
To grow garlic in the garden, plant garlic cloves:
- in October or March
- in a sunny position
- in well drained soil
- 5cm deep
- 15cm apart within the row
- distance between rows 45cm
rows-of-garlic
garlic-rows
growing-garlic
The garlic growing in the photos was planted in February. The variety is Fokyhama.
Garlic is little trouble. Hoe out the weeds as they appear and water garlic in dry weather.
Lift garlic bulbs when the leaves turn yellow in July and August.
Dry in an airy spot, under cover.
Store in cool, frost free place.
Children find garlic an easy plant to grow. FarmingFriends are growing garlic in the school gardening club.
Click this link for a garlic grow card which can be used in the vegetable garden.
