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Common Mistakes to Avoid When Growing Garlic

Introduction

Garlic is one of the easiest and most rewarding crops you can grow in the UK. From a few cloves planted in autumn or spring, you can harvest plump, flavourful bulbs that last for months. However, while garlic is generally low-maintenance, certain mistakes can lead to small bulbs, rotting cloves, or poor storage life.

Avoiding these pitfalls is the key to growing a healthy, reliable crop. In this guide, we’ll look at the most common mistakes when growing garlic, and how you can sidestep them for bigger, better harvests.

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1. Planting Garlic Too Late

Garlic needs time to develop roots before winter (for autumn planting) or to mature fully before summer (for spring planting).

• Mistake: Planting too late in autumn or spring, giving bulbs less time to grow.
• Fix: Plant in September–November for autumn garlic, or February–March for spring garlic.

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2. Using Supermarket Garlic

It’s tempting to plant cloves from shop-bought bulbs, but this can backfire.

• Mistake: Using supermarket garlic that may be treated to prevent sprouting or carry diseases.
• Fix: Always buy certified seed garlic from a reputable supplier — it’s disease-free and suited to UK conditions.

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3. Planting Cloves the Wrong Way Up

It sounds simple, but it’s a surprisingly common error.

• Mistake: Planting cloves sideways or upside down.
• Fix: Always plant pointy end up, flat end down, at the correct depth.

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4. Planting Too Shallow or Too Deep

Depth matters when planting garlic.

• Mistake: Shallow planting leaves cloves exposed to frost and birds; deep planting slows growth.
• Fix: Plant 2–3cm deep in autumn, 5–6cm deep in spring.

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5. Overcrowding Garlic

Garlic needs space to grow plump bulbs.

• Mistake: Planting cloves too close together, leading to small bulbs.
• Fix: Space cloves 10–15cm apart, with 25–30cm between rows.

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6. Ignoring Soil Preparation

Garlic thrives in fertile, free-draining soil.

• Mistake: Planting directly into poor, compacted, or waterlogged soil.
• Fix: Improve soil with compost or well-rotted manure, and use raised beds if drainage is poor.

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7. Overwatering Garlic

Garlic dislikes waterlogged conditions.

• Mistake: Watering too often, especially in autumn and winter, leading to rot.
• Fix: Only water during spring and early summer dry spells. Stop watering when leaves yellow before harvest.

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8. Neglecting Fertiliser

Garlic is a heavy feeder and needs nutrients for strong bulbs.

• Mistake: Planting in poor soil and never feeding.
• Fix: Add fish, blood & bone at planting, then switch to a potassium-rich feed (like tomato fertiliser) in spring.

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9. Allowing Weeds to Take Over

Garlic has shallow roots and can’t compete with weeds.

• Mistake: Letting weeds grow thick around garlic plants.
• Fix: Weed regularly by hand or mulch with straw/compost to suppress growth.

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10. Not Protecting Young Shoots

Birds and pests can cause damage just after planting.

• Mistake: Leaving beds uncovered in autumn/winter, allowing birds to pull up cloves.
• Fix: Cover beds with fleece or netting until shoots are strong.

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11. Forgetting Crop Rotation

Garlic is prone to soil-borne diseases if grown in the same place repeatedly.

• Mistake: Planting garlic in the same soil year after year.
• Fix: Rotate crops — avoid planting garlic or other alliums in the same spot for 3–4 years.

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12. Ignoring Garlic Scapes (Hardneck Varieties)

Hardneck garlic produces scapes (flower stalks) that need removing.

• Mistake: Leaving scapes on, reducing bulb size.
• Fix: Cut scapes as soon as they appear and enjoy them in the kitchen.

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13. Harvesting at the Wrong Time

Timing is critical for garlic harvest.

• Mistake: Harvesting too early (small bulbs) or too late (splitting, poor storage).
• Fix: Harvest when the bottom leaves turn yellow but top leaves remain green (usually June–July for autumn garlic).

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14. Skipping the Curing Process

Curing ensures bulbs store well.

• Mistake: Skipping curing and storing garlic while it’s still fresh and moist.
• Fix: Cure bulbs for 2–3 weeks in a dry, airy place before trimming and storing.

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15. Poor Storage Conditions

Even perfectly grown garlic can spoil if stored incorrectly.

• Mistake: Storing garlic in plastic bags or damp spaces.
• Fix: Store in mesh bags, braids, or baskets in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area.

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Conclusion

Garlic is a straightforward crop, but small mistakes can have a big impact on your harvest. From planting cloves too late or too close together, to forgetting to cure after harvest, each misstep can reduce bulb size and storage life.

By avoiding these common garlic-growing mistakes, you’ll set yourself up for a healthy, abundant harvest. Once you’ve mastered the basics, garlic will become one of the most reliable and rewarding crops in your garden or allotment.

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Top 10 Questions About Growing Garlic Mistakes

1. Can I grow garlic from supermarket cloves?
You can, but it’s risky. Use certified seed garlic for the best results.

2. What happens if I plant garlic too late?
Bulbs will be smaller and may not split properly.

3. Why are my garlic bulbs small?
Common reasons include late planting, overcrowding, poor feeding, or underwatering in spring.

4. Can I plant garlic too deep?
Yes, deep planting slows growth and weakens shoots.

5. Why is my garlic rotting in the ground?
Usually caused by overwatering or poor drainage.

6. What happens if I don’t rotate garlic crops?
Soil diseases like white rot may build up and ruin future crops.

7. Should I remove garlic scapes?
Yes, cutting scapes boosts bulb size.

8. Why did my garlic split before harvest?
It was left in the ground too long.

9. Do I need to cure garlic after harvest?
Yes, curing is vital for long storage.

10. Why did my garlic sprout in storage?
Stored in too much warmth or humidity — keep in a cool, dry place.

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