Garlic

Type: Vegetable

Rotation Group: 2, Roots and Onions


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SOLENT WIGHT

(Soft neck) Described as having an aroma and bouquet without compare, this garlic produces approximately 15 cloves per bulb. 'Solent Wight' is the longest keeping garlic and if harvested in July or August and dried, it can keep until April the following year!
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MERSLEY WIGHT

(Soft neck) A Classic "Silverskin" type, ideal for late winter or spring planting. One of the best for keeping qualities, it can be stored up to June the following year. Mersley Wight has outstanding vigour and is larger and bolder than similar types. Ideal garlic for the UK gardener. Ready for harvest end of July.
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ELEPHANT

Not a true member of the garlic family but closer to a leek, these bulbs have a fresh, mild and sweet flavour. Each bulb is approximately 10-15cm across. Elephant garlic is best planted in the autumn for maximum size.
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CARCASSONNE

(Hard neck) Carcassonne Wight is an exceptional, pink cloved hardneck variety showing great vigour in the UK climate. Good skin cover, great strength and carry through coupled with superior (in our opinion!) bouquet and character.

Site, Soil and Preparation

Garlic thrive in an open, sunny position and on fertile, well-drained soils.

Indoor Sowing

If your soil is heavy and damp over winter, it's better to start garlic off in modules in a coldframe before planting out in spring.

Outdoor Sowing

Garlic needs a period of cold, so is usually planted in late autumn or early winter. Most varieties need one to two months at 0-10C (32-50F) for good bulb development. Garlic cloves can be planted outside in autumn or in spring. Push them into the soil so the tip is just showing at 150mm (6in) spacings in rows 300mm (12in) apart.

Thinning

Thinning of garlic should not be need if planted at the correct spacings.

Transplanting

Indoor sown garlic should be hardened off before transplanting outside to final growing position at 150mm (6in) spacing in rows 300mm (12in) apart, in the middle of spring.

Care

Weed regularly, as garlic don't grow well if competing with other plants. Water in prolonged dry spells every 14 days, and give an occasional feed with a general liquid fertiliser. But stop watering and feeding once the garlic have swollen in mid-summer. Remove any flower stems as soon as they start to form, otherwise the plant's energy will go into producing the flower, rather than swelling the bulb.

Harvest

Autumn-planted sets are ready to harvest by early to mid-summer, while spring-sown or spring-planted onions are ready in late summer to early autumn. Yellowing and toppling of the leaves is a sign that the crop is reaching maturity. Harvest before the leaves die down completely.