Grow your own Garlic
Garlic is a great crop to grow if you are just starting out. It's has a relatively high success rate and the taste of home grown Garlic is fantastic. It can also benefit other crops. The beautiful Garlic aroma is not well liked in the insect world. For example planting garlics, Leeks and Onions around carrots can help deter carrot root fly.
Like other Alliums, Garlic needs a long growing season in a sunny spot. The best time plant is in October in well fertilised soil. Make sure you use plenty of manure or compost.
You'll need to buy disease resistant bulbs from a garden centre. Using shop bought Garlic can have a varied success rate. That said I do know of people who have had a good crop from supermarket garlic. Personally I would not take the risk. I love Garlic too much.
Divide your bulb into cloves. Plant about 15cm apart in rows of about 30cm. The clove should be just below the surface. Make sure you put the root side down and shoot side up. Then water. You should regularly water the cloves. Make sure the area is kept clear of weeds. Garlic hates to compete - it has to be number one. It's your job to make sure it is!
OK so keep watering until harvest. By the 1st of july you should see the leaves start to whither and yellow. Stop watering them. This will give them a chance to harden off. Now you can pull them up!
It's good idea to keep a couple of the biggest and best bulbs to use the following year - then you'll be self sufficient in Garlic!
Curing Garlic
To cure your Garlic you need to place it a shady, dry and warm place. I personally use an old dry stone wall which has good cover and always benefits from any breeze. It's important that there's good air flow around the bulbs. If it stays dry outside it can take from about 2 - 4 weeks to cure properly. If you want to go for the rustic look you can braid them before you cure. It always looks great in a country kitchen.
If you want to store your Garlic trim the roots and take the leaves off. Find a cool and dark place, a cellar or pantry is ideal. Try and keep the temperature at about 5 degrees. Do check on them as they won't keep forever.
Then enjoy garlicy food for the rest of the year!
