Garlic needs a well-drained but moisture-retentive
soil with a moderate level of fertility. Raised beds are ideal. It does
best in an open, sunny position and prefers a neutral to slightly acid
soil. It is a member of the allium family, so should not be planted
where onions or leeks have been grown in the past two years. Before
planting, feed the bed with garden compost if you have it, or rake in a
general purpose fertilizer or a little well-rotted manure.Be careful
not to overfeed with nitrogen: this will lead to soft, leafy growth,
split bulbs and soft cloves that do not store well. On the other hand garlic loves potash, so if you have a supply of wood-ash, rake a good dressing of this into the bed. A
dressing of seaweed will ensure that your plants get all the trace
elements. If you are using seaweed meal or dust, rake it in before
planting. If using the unprocessed seaweed itself, add it as a top
dressing after planting. Just before planting, break up your
garlic bulbs. Plant the cloves in holes or a trench about 2inches (5cm)
deep and cover with soil. Plant them in a block 6inches (15cm) apart
each way, pointy end up for the standard varieties. The bigger cloves will produce the biggest
bulbs, so can be planted further apart to make up for
their size. Some varieties like the Elephant garlic or Large White will need to be 12" (30cm) apart. Small cloves may be planted closer together or in groups so the
tops can be eaten as a herb, like chives, in the Spring. As some of our varieties for planting are limited, we have mixed packs available subject to change . If you require a specific variety or requirements, please contact us direct . Please look at our `Our Produce` page for regularly updated availability on all our products
