![Focus on... Planting garlic](https://cdn.magzter.com/1387284923/1675081730/articles/82FHDI2-Q1675168179489/FOCUS-ON-PLANTING-GARLIC.jpg)
THE organised gardener may have started their garlic in November, but the rest of us can plant now. There are two main types of garlic – softneck (Allium sativum) and hardneck (A. sativum var. ophioscorodon) – so what kind of care do they need?
Perfect planting
Whole bulbs (heads) should be split into individual cloves just before planting (they dry out excessively, otherwise). Don’t bruise them as this can cause rots. Only plant the largest plump cloves as these give the biggest yields (pot smaller ones up as garlic chives), positioning them 3in (8cm) deep and 6in (16cm) apart in grids (wider on lighter soils). Site in full sun, and add plenty of organic matter to the plot, plus a little bonemeal.
Garlic doesn’t have an extensive root system, yet it needs steady moisture and appreciates phosphorus (but not excess nitrogen). Acid soils give poor yields, so lime to raise the pH to neutral. Water every week in dry spells (except two weeks prior to harvest) and keep beds well weeded. Harvest once the foliage is half-dead – any later, and the cloves keep growing, hindering storage life.
Seasonal adjustment
Most hardnecks are autumn-planted – they’re hardier, with fewer, bigger cloves. These types will produce flower spikes terminating in bulbils, which impacts upon storage, so remove and eat these for the biggest heads. Softneck garlic is less cold-tolerant so it suits spring plantings (it doesn’t flower, so it stores very well).
Esta historia es de la edición February 04, 2023 de Amateur Gardening.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición February 04, 2023 de Amateur Gardening.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
![To dig or not to dig?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/srY9Bgqgg1696077695176/TO-DIG-OR-NOT-TO-DIG.jpg)
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
![The box ball blues](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/MSiW9S-3s1696077564674/THE-BOX-BALL-BLUES.jpg)
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
![Save your own seeds](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/gxMCpsinZ1696077466987/SAVE-YOUR-OWN-SEEDS.jpg)
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
![Strange sightings](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/ddasMklZP1696077318893/STRANGE-SIGHTINGS.jpg)
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
![A bolt from the blue!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/7nMhGuBLn1696077232526/A-BOLT-FROM-THE-BLUE.jpg)
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
![Winter moth prevention](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/uaMLSKKf61696077078880/WINTER-MOTH-PREVENTION.jpg)
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
![Create a winter container](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/Jd1C8L2Ax1696076912753/CREATE-A-WINTER-CONTAINER.jpg)
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
![Lightweight gardening tools](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/2M8ifxUcL1696076768203/LIGHTWEIGHT-GARDENING-TOOLS.jpg)
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
![Autumn price round-up](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/8CDp1hNq-1696076665397/AUTUMN-PRICE-ROUNDUP.jpg)
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
![Rudbeckias](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/n0XuNlGYP1696073214532/RUDBECKIAS.jpg)
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters