Garlic

A slow-growing kitchen staple with intense flavour. Plant in autumn for the biggest bulbs and earliest harvest.

Written by Yemi · Last reviewed August 2026

Waiting this month

First sprouts in 4–6 weeks to first shoots

Difficulty

Now is a good time to sow Garlic. Follow the sowing guide below.

Growing Calendar

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sow

Transplant

Bare-root / Sets

Harvest

This month: Oct

Log to journal

Start seeds indoors this week

•Fill tray with compost
•Sow seeds evenly
•Cover lightly with soil
•Water gently
•Place in warm light spot

Sowing Guide

What you'd find on the seed packet

Sow Depth

5cm

Spacing

15cm

Germination

4–6weeks to first shoots

Thinning

No thinning needed: one clove per planting station

Grower's Note

Autumn planting (Oct–Nov) produces the largest bulbs. Break bulbs into individual cloves just before planting.

Recommended Varieties

'Solent Wight' holds an RHS Award of Garden Merit and is the softneck variety best adapted to the British climate, storing well through winter. 'Germidour' also holds an AGM and is a well-known reliable choice with a milder, richer flavour.

Growing Stages

Approximate weeks from sowing to harvest

Sprouting

4wks

Establishing

12wks

Maturing

8wks

Total~24 weeksfrom seed to harvest

Companion Plants

Tomato

Deters Disease

Tomato has natural antifungal properties that can help protect Garlic from soil-borne disease.

Lettuce

Repels Pests

Lettuce's dense low growth breaks up the pest-scent trail leading to Garlic.

Carrot

Repels Pests

Carrot's feathery foliage helps break up the scent trail pests would otherwise follow straight to Garlic.

Spinach

Suppresses Weeds

Spinach's dense, low growth works as a living mulch, shading out weeds around Garlic.

Beetroot

Deters Disease

Beetroot has natural antifungal properties that can help protect Garlic from soil-borne disease.

This week for your garlic

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Water

Every 3–4 days

Sunlight

6+ hours direct sun

Watch Out For

White rot persists in soil for years: avoid planting where garlic or onions have failed before and do not move infected soil

Rust on leaves reduces bulb size: remove the worst-affected leaves, improve airflow between plants and avoid high-nitrogen feeds

Planting too shallow exposes cloves to frost heave: plant to at least 5cm deep and firm the soil well; push any heaved cloves back down after a frost

Pests & Problems

Full guide

Allium Leaf Miner

White spots or lines on leaves

Mar–Apr & Oct–Nov

White Rot

Yellowing leaves

Apr–Jun

Leek Rust

Orange pustules on leaves

Jul–Sep

What You'll Need

Equipment for growing garlic

Organic Seeds: Just Seed

Certified organic, open-pollinated

Coir Compost 9L: Coco & Coir

Organic, peat-free, RHS-approved

Organic Liquid Seaweed

Shropshire Seaweed: soil & plant feed

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Common Questions

About growing Garlic in the UK

When should I plant garlic in the UK?

Plant garlic in October to November for the best results: it needs a cold period (vernalisation) to split into multiple cloves. Spring planting (February–March) is possible but produces smaller bulbs. Plant individual cloves 2–3cm deep, 15cm apart, pointed end up.

When is garlic ready to harvest?

Garlic is ready from May to August when approximately half the leaves have yellowed. Lift carefully with a fork to avoid damaging bulbs. Cure in a dry, airy place for 3–4 weeks before storing. Do not harvest too early. The papery skins need to develop for long storage.

Why is my garlic producing a flower stalk?

Flower stalks (scapes) appear on hardneck garlic varieties in early summer. Remove them promptly by cutting or snapping: this directs energy back into the bulb rather than into flowering. Scapes are delicious eaten immediately, with a mild garlic flavour.

Can I grow garlic from a supermarket bulb?

Supermarket garlic is often not suited to UK conditions and may be treated to prevent sprouting. It is far better to buy certified, virus-free seed garlic from a reputable supplier. This gives reliably larger bulbs and reduces disease risk.

Written from real growing experience, organic methods only. Our story · Our approach

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