🧄 Growing Garlic from a Clove: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide
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🌱 Introduction: Growing Garlic Is Easier Than You Think
Garlic is one of the most rewarding and low-maintenance crops you can grow. Each garlic bulb contains several individual cloves, and every clove you plant will grow into a whole new bulb by summer.
With the right timing, spacing and soil preparation, beginners can grow garlic with almost zero effort — and enjoy a fresh supply of strong, flavour-rich bulbs for cooking.
Growing garlic from a clove gives you:
- reliable harvests
- excellent flavour
- very low upkeep
- great results even in small spaces
- crops perfectly suited to the UK climate
Below are the best garlic varieties and tools to help you start your growing journey.
⭐ Check Out Our Recommended Products
• Certified UK Garlic Bulbs (Hardneck & Softneck)
Perfect for planting strong, disease-free cloves.
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• Garlic Fertiliser (High Potash Feed)
Boosts bulb size and overall plant health.
Click here to see them
• Multi-Purpose Compost + Grit
Provides the free-draining soil garlic needs to thrive.
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🧄 When to Plant Garlic in the UK
You can plant garlic at two different times, depending on the variety.
🍁 1️⃣ Autumn Planting (Best for Big Bulbs)
Mid-September – December
Autumn garlic benefits from winter cold, which helps cloves split and form large bulbs.
Best autumn varieties:
✔ Early Purple Wight
✔ Solent Wight
✔ Germidour
✔ Provence Wight
🌸 2️⃣ Spring Planting
January – March
Still very reliable — ideal if you missed autumn planting.
Best spring varieties:
✔ Mikey
✔ Vallelado
✔ Picardy Wight
🌱 Step-by-Step: How to Grow Garlic from a Clove
1️⃣ Break the Bulb Into Individual Cloves
Separate the bulb gently.
Do not peel the papery skin — it protects the clove during planting.
Choose the biggest, healthiest cloves.
2️⃣ Prepare the Soil
Garlic prefers:
✔ loose soil
✔ excellent drainage
✔ full sun
✔ weed-free ground
Mix in:
- compost
- grit
- leaf mould
Avoid waterlogging — garlic rots easily.
3️⃣ Plant Each Clove Pointy-End Up
Planting depth: 5–7 cm deep
Spacing: 15 cm between cloves
Row spacing: 30 cm
Firm soil gently after planting.
4️⃣ Water Lightly
Water once after planting.
Then water only:
✔ in dry spells
✔ during spring growth
✔ when bulbs are swelling
Too much water leads to rot.
5️⃣ Keep Beds Weed-Free
Garlic hates competition.
Remove weeds regularly to help bulbs swell evenly.
6️⃣ Feed in Spring
From March to May, apply a high-potash fertiliser once a month.
Avoid nitrogen — it encourages leaves, not bulbs.
7️⃣ Remove Flower Stalks (Hardneck Only)
Hardneck garlic produces a curly stem called a scape.
Cut it off to encourage bigger bulbs.
(Scapes are edible and delicious!)
🌬 Winter Care for Autumn-Planted Garlic
Garlic is extremely hardy.
✔ frost doesn’t harm it
✔ snow acts as insulation
✔ winter rain is OK with good drainage
✔ mulch is optional but helpful in cold regions
Small green shoots appearing in winter are completely normal.
🌾 When to Harvest Garlic
Harvest time:
- June–July for autumn planting
- July–August for spring planting
Signs garlic is ready:
✔ lower leaves yellowing
✔ upper leaves still green
✔ bulbs feel firm and fully formed
✔ skins look papery
Do not leave garlic too long — bulbs may split.
🌞 How to Cure and Store Garlic
- Brush off soil (don’t wash)
- Lay bulbs somewhere warm & airy
- Cure for 2–3 weeks
- Trim roots & stems
- Store in nets, bags or braids
Softneck garlic stores longest — 6–9 months.
❌ Common Problems When Growing Garlic
❌ Small bulbs
Planting too late or too close together.
❌ Rust
Common but not usually harmful — improve airflow.
❌ Rot
Caused by heavy, wet soil.
❌ Cloves not separating
Lack of winter cold or wrong variety for your region.
🌼 FAQs
Can you grow garlic from supermarket cloves?
Yes, but they may be treated, diseased or unsuited to UK climate.
Do you peel garlic before planting?
No — keep the skins on.
Can garlic grow in pots?
Absolutely — use a deep pot with grit for drainage.
How long does garlic take to grow?
Around 8–9 months from planting to harvest.
Does garlic need full sun?
Yes — sunlight increases bulb size and flavour.