10 Common Garlic Growing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Avoiding common garlic growing mistakes can make the difference between harvesting beautiful, healthy bulbs and ending up with small, disappointing garlic that barely seems worth the effort.

Garlic is generally considered one of the easiest vegetables to grow in the UK.

You plant individual cloves during autumn, allow them to establish through winter and then harvest the new bulbs the following summer.

It sounds straightforward, doesn’t it?

And most of the time, it is.

However, things don’t always go according to plan.

You might find that your garlic leaves are turning yellow months before harvest.

Perhaps the cloves have started rotting underground, or you’ve grown enormous green plants only to discover tiny bulbs when you lift them.

Sometimes garlic produces a single round bulb instead of dividing into separate cloves.

And if you’ve grown garlic for several months, finding a disappointing harvest can be incredibly frustrating.

Here at Gardening with Ben, I enjoy growing both ordinary garlic and elephant garlic on the allotment.

I particularly love autumn planting because it gives me something productive to do when many of the summer crops have finished.

But one thing I’ve learned from years of gardening is that even relatively easy crops can struggle if their basic growing conditions aren’t right.

The good news is that many garlic-growing problems are preventable.

Often, improving your planting time, soil drainage, spacing or watering routine is enough to make a difference.

In this complete UK guide, I’ll explain the ten most common garlic growing mistakes, why they cause problems and exactly what you can do to avoid them.

I’ll also cover yellowing leaves, small garlic bulbs, pests and diseases, and a practical month-by-month calendar to help you grow a better harvest.

Why Does Garlic Sometimes Fail to Grow Properly?

Garlic is a hardy vegetable, but it still has specific growing requirements.

For successful bulb production, most varieties need:

• Healthy planting cloves.
• A suitable autumn or spring planting date.
• A sunny position.
• Fertile, well-drained soil.
• Enough space between plants.
• A period of appropriate cold weather for bulb development.
• Adequate moisture during active growth.
• Balanced nutrition.
• Protection from serious pests and diseases.
• Harvesting at the correct stage.

If one or more of these conditions is missing, your garlic may produce smaller bulbs or develop health problems.

However, not every unusual-looking plant is unhealthy.

For example, slow growth during winter is normal.

A few yellow leaves close to harvest can also be expected.

The important thing is understanding the difference between natural growth and a genuine problem.

The 10 Most Common Garlic Growing Mistakes at a Glance

Mistake	What can happen	How to avoid it
1. Poor planting garlic	Weak growth or disease	Buy healthy named planting varieties
2. Wrong planting time	Small or undivided bulbs	Follow variety-specific UK planting dates
3. Incorrect planting depth	Poor emergence or exposed cloves	Plant pointed end up at suitable depth
4. Wrong soil or position	Rot, weak plants and small bulbs	Choose full sun and good drainage
5. Overcrowding	Reduced bulb size	Space cloves approximately 15 cm apart
6. Letting weeds take over	Competition for water and nutrients	Weed regularly and carefully
7. Incorrect watering	Drought stress or rotting bulbs	Adjust watering to growth and weather
8. Feeding incorrectly	Poor growth or excessive foliage	Provide balanced nutrition
9. Ignoring pests and diseases	Yellowing, wilting and crop losses	Identify problems early and maintain hygiene
10. Harvesting or storing badly	Split bulbs, mould and poor storage	Harvest at maturity and cure properly

Now let’s look at each mistake in more detail.

Mistake 1: Planting Poor-Quality or Unsuitable Garlic Cloves

The first mistake happens before your garlic has even been planted.

It’s tempting to pick up an ordinary garlic bulb from the supermarket, separate it into cloves and plant it in your vegetable garden.

Some supermarket garlic can grow.

However, it isn’t always the best choice for a productive UK allotment.

Why Can Supermarket Garlic Be a Problem?

Garlic sold for cooking may have been grown in another country with different climatic conditions.

The variety may not be well suited to British winters or our seasonal daylight patterns.

It may also have been stored for extended periods.

More importantly, garlic sold for eating isn’t necessarily supplied under the same plant-health arrangements as specialist planting garlic.

Introducing infected planting material can create serious problems.

What Does Poor Planting Garlic Look Like?

Avoid cloves that are:

• Soft.
• Mouldy.
• Damaged.
• Shrivelled.
• Showing obvious decay.
• Producing an unpleasant smell.

Healthy cloves should generally feel firm.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Buy named garlic varieties intended for planting from reputable UK suppliers.

Suitable varieties commonly available include ‘Solent Wight’, ‘Germidour’, ‘Cristo’ and ‘Arno’.

Check the supplier’s recommended planting dates.

Choose healthy cloves and keep their protective papery skins intact where possible.

Gardening with Ben tip: Starting with good planting material is one of the easiest ways to improve your harvest. A healthy clove gives your crop a much better chance from the beginning.

Mistake 2: Planting Garlic at the Wrong Time

Timing is one of the biggest factors affecting garlic growth.

Many gardeners assume they can plant any garlic clove at any time of year and still get a large bulb.

Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case.

Why Is Planting Time Important?

Most garlic varieties benefit from a period of cold weather.

This helps them form properly divided bulbs rather than remaining as a single solid round.

Autumn planting also allows the plants to establish roots before strong spring growth begins.

When Should You Plant Garlic in the UK?

For many varieties, October and November are excellent planting months.

Some suitable varieties can also be planted during December.

Others are specifically recommended for late-winter or early-spring planting.

What Happens If You Plant Too Late?

Late-planted garlic may have:

• Less time to establish roots.
• Insufficient cold exposure.
• A shorter growing season.
• Smaller bulbs.
• Poorly divided bulbs.

What Is a Garlic Round?

Sometimes garlic develops one large, undivided bulb rather than a bulb containing separate cloves.

This is called a garlic round.

It can happen when plants don’t receive suitable conditions for clove development.

However, rounds can also occur for other reasons, including the use of very small planting material.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Read the instructions for your particular variety.

For traditional autumn garlic, aim to plant during the recommended autumn window.

If you’ve missed autumn, choose a variety suitable for spring planting rather than assuming any garlic will perform equally well.

Mistake 3: Planting Garlic Too Deeply, Too Shallowly or Upside Down

Garlic cloves need to be positioned correctly.

Although garlic is capable of growing under imperfect conditions, careless planting can make establishment more difficult.

Which Way Up Should Garlic Be Planted?

The pointed end should face upwards.

The flatter basal plate should point downwards.

Roots develop from the base, while the green shoot grows upwards.

How Deep Should You Plant Garlic?

For ordinary garlic in the UK, a useful general guide is to position the pointed tip approximately 2.5 cm beneath the soil surface.

The exact depth may vary depending on the variety and soil conditions.

Some garlic can be planted slightly deeper in light soil.

Avoid unnecessarily deep planting in heavy, wet soil.

What Happens If You Plant Garlic Too Shallowly?

Cloves may become exposed.

Birds may pull them out before roots establish.

Very shallow planting can also result in developing bulbs becoming exposed to light.

What Happens If You Plant Too Deeply?

Shoots have further to travel before reaching the surface.

Very deep planting in heavy, wet soil can contribute to poor establishment.

What If You Plant a Clove Upside Down?

It may still grow, but the shoot has to redirect itself towards the surface.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Use a dibber or trowel to make appropriately sized planting holes.

Place each clove pointed end upwards.

Cover with soil and firm gently.

Mark the planting area so you know where the cloves are.

Mistake 4: Growing Garlic in Waterlogged Soil or Too Much Shade

Garlic prefers sunshine and good drainage.

Planting it in the wrong location is one of the easiest ways to end up with disappointing bulbs.

Does Garlic Need Full Sun?

Yes.

Garlic grows best in a sunny position where the leaves receive plenty of light.

Healthy leaves produce energy through photosynthesis, which supports bulb development.

What Happens in Too Much Shade?

Plants may grow weakly.

Their foliage may become less vigorous.

The bulbs may remain smaller.

Why Is Waterlogged Soil Dangerous?

Garlic is frequently planted during autumn, meaning its cloves remain in the ground through wet UK winter weather.

If the soil remains saturated, the cloves and roots can suffer.

Poor drainage can encourage decay and increase susceptibility to disease.

Can Garlic Grow in Clay Soil?

Yes, provided drainage is adequate.

However, heavy clay that remains waterlogged throughout winter can be problematic.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Choose a sunny, well-drained area.

Improve soil structure with mature garden compost where appropriate.

Avoid using fresh manure directly around planting cloves.

If your soil remains extremely wet, consider growing garlic in raised beds or starting cloves in modules under cool protection.

Starting Garlic in Modules

Plant one clove in each suitable module filled with peat-free compost.

Keep the modules in an unheated greenhouse, cold frame or sheltered outdoor position.

Maintain slight moisture without waterlogging.

Transplant into prepared soil during spring when conditions are suitable.

This approach is particularly useful for heavy allotment soils.

Mistake 5: Planting Garlic Cloves Too Close Together

It’s tempting to squeeze as many garlic cloves as possible into a small raised bed.

After all, more plants should mean more garlic, shouldn’t it?

Not necessarily.

Overcrowding can reduce the size and quality of your harvest.

Why Does Spacing Matter?

Every garlic plant needs access to sunlight, moisture and nutrients.

When plants are positioned too closely together, they compete for these resources.

Dense foliage can also reduce airflow.

What Happens When Garlic Is Overcrowded?

You may notice:

• Smaller bulbs.
• Uneven growth.
• Reduced airflow.
• Greater competition for moisture.
• Difficulty weeding between plants.

How Far Apart Should Garlic Be Planted?

For ordinary culinary garlic, aim for approximately 15 cm between cloves.

If planting in traditional rows, allow around 30 cm between rows.

Does Elephant Garlic Need More Space?

Yes.

Elephant garlic is a larger plant and normally needs considerably more room.

Approximately 25–30 cm between plants can be a useful starting point.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Measure your planting area before starting.

Use string or a ruler to mark the spacing.

If you’re growing in pots, don’t try to fit too many cloves into a small container.

A few well-spaced plants may produce a better harvest than numerous overcrowded ones.

Mistake 6: Allowing Weeds to Take Over Your Garlic Bed

Garlic doesn’t compete particularly well with established weeds.

This is especially important during spring, when the plants are producing the foliage that will support their bulbs.

Why Are Weeds Such a Problem?

Weeds compete with garlic for:

• Water.
• Nutrients.
• Sunlight.
• Growing space.

Some persistent weeds also develop extensive root systems.

On an allotment, bindweed and couch grass can become particularly troublesome.

What Happens If You Ignore Weeds?

Garlic plants may become shaded.

Their growth may slow.

The bulbs may not reach their full potential.

How Should You Weed Garlic?

Carefully.

Garlic has relatively shallow roots, so aggressive hoeing close to plants can cause damage.

Hand weeding is often the safest approach.

Can Mulch Help?

Yes.

A suitable mulch can suppress weed growth and help maintain soil moisture.

However, avoid piling thick, wet material against the stems or covering emerging shoots.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Remove persistent weeds before planting.

Check the bed throughout autumn and winter.

As spring arrives, weed regularly before unwanted plants become established.

Gardening with Ben tip: I always think ten minutes spent removing small weeds is better than having to tackle a completely overgrown garlic bed later in the season.

Mistake 7: Watering Garlic Too Much or Too Little

Watering is another area where gardeners can make mistakes.

Garlic needs sufficient moisture during active growth.

However, excessive water can be just as harmful as prolonged drought.

Should You Water Garlic After Planting?

If the soil is dry, water gently after planting.

If autumn rainfall has already provided adequate moisture, extra watering may not be necessary.

Does Garlic Need Water During Winter?

Outdoor garlic usually receives sufficient natural rainfall during a typical British winter.

Avoid watering soil that’s already wet.

When Does Garlic Need More Water?

During spring and early summer, when the plants are producing strong foliage and developing bulbs.

If there’s a prolonged dry spell, additional watering may be beneficial.

What Happens If Garlic Gets Too Dry?

Growth can slow.

Leaves may lose vigour.

Bulb development may suffer.

What Happens If Garlic Gets Too Wet?

Roots may become damaged.

Cloves and bulbs may rot.

Leaves may turn yellow prematurely.

Should You Water Garlic Close to Harvest?

Once the bulbs are mature and the lower leaves begin naturally yellowing, reduce or stop watering.

Persistently wet conditions at this stage can encourage deterioration.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Check moisture beneath the soil surface.

Don’t simply water because it’s a particular day of the week.

Remember that raised beds and containers can dry out more quickly than ordinary garden soil.

Water according to the weather, soil and growth stage.

Mistake 8: Feeding Garlic Incorrectly

Garlic needs nutrients, but more fertiliser doesn’t automatically produce bigger bulbs.

In fact, incorrect feeding can sometimes make things worse.

Does Garlic Need Fertiliser?

Garlic benefits from fertile soil.

If you’ve prepared the bed with suitable mature compost, the soil may already contain adequate nutrients.

What Happens If Garlic Doesn’t Get Enough Nutrients?

Plants may grow weakly.

Leaf colour may deteriorate.

Bulb development may be reduced.

What Happens If You Use Too Much Nitrogen?

Excessive nitrogen can encourage soft leafy growth.

It can also create nutrient imbalances and may increase susceptibility to some problems.

Large leaves alone don’t guarantee large garlic bulbs.

Can You Use Chicken Manure Pellets?

Yes.

Chicken manure pellets can supply nutrients, but they should be used according to the product instructions.

Avoid applying excessive amounts.

Is Onion and Garlic Feed Suitable?

A suitable fertiliser formulated for allium crops may be useful where additional feeding is required.

However, it isn’t necessary to feed constantly.

Can You Use Tomato Feed?

Some gardeners use potassium-rich feeds during active growth.

However, tomato feed isn’t automatically the best choice for garlic.

Balanced nutrition and healthy soil matter more than any single fertiliser.

When Should You Feed?

If additional nutrients are needed, early spring is an important time to support developing foliage.

Avoid unnecessary heavy nitrogen feeding as bulbs approach maturity.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Start with healthy, fertile soil.

Check the fertiliser’s nutrient content.

Follow the manufacturer’s application rates.

Assess the plants rather than feeding automatically.

If a problem keeps returning, consider testing your soil before adding more nutrients.

Mistake 9: Ignoring Garlic Pests and Diseases

Garlic is generally a relatively easy crop, but it isn’t immune to problems.

Some pests and diseases can seriously affect your harvest.

And the earlier you recognise unusual symptoms, the easier it is to decide what action to take.

Onion White Rot

Onion white rot is one of the most serious problems affecting garlic, onions and related alliums.

It’s caused by a soil-borne fungus that can remain in the ground for many years.

Symptoms can include:

• Yellowing leaves.
• Wilting plants.
• Poor growth.
• Decaying roots.
• Rotting around the base of the bulb.
• White fungal growth, sometimes with tiny black resting structures.

Can You Cure Onion White Rot by Adding Fertiliser?

No.

White rot is a disease, not a simple nutrient deficiency.

Adding fertiliser won’t eliminate the pathogen.

How Do You Avoid Spreading White Rot?

Use healthy planting stock.

Don’t move potentially contaminated soil or bulbs into unaffected areas.

Clean soil from tools and footwear when moving between growing areas.

If white rot is suspected, seek reliable identification and disease-management advice.

Crop rotation alone isn’t an effective short-term solution because the fungus can survive in soil for many years.

Garlic Rust

Garlic rust produces distinctive raised orange or brown pustules on the leaves.

These can spread and cause foliage to deteriorate.

Severe infections reduce the plant’s ability to grow strongly.

How Can You Reduce Rust Problems?

Allow adequate plant spacing.

Avoid excessive nitrogen feeding.

Maintain airflow.

Remove affected debris appropriately after cropping.

Allium Leaf Miner

Allium leaf miner is another pest that can affect garlic.

The adults can leave pale marks on leaves, while larvae damage plant tissues.

Fine insect-proof mesh can help if installed before the adult flies begin laying eggs.

Onion Fly

Onion fly larvae can damage the roots and bulbs of alliums.

How to Avoid This Mistake

Inspect garlic regularly during spring and summer.

Look for unusual marks, distortion, yellowing or unexpected collapse.

Don’t automatically assume all problems are caused by a lack of water or nutrients.

Correct identification matters before deciding how to respond.

Mistake 10: Harvesting Garlic Too Early, Too Late or Storing It Incorrectly

After growing garlic for several months, it’s tempting to harvest as soon as the leaves begin changing colour.

However, harvesting at the wrong time can reduce the quality of your crop.

What Happens If You Harvest Too Early?

Bulbs may still be immature.

Cloves may not have developed fully.

The outer wrappers may be unsuitable for longer storage.

What Happens If You Harvest Too Late?

The protective wrappers can begin deteriorating.

Bulbs may split open.

Individual cloves can separate.

This often reduces storage life.

When Is Garlic Ready to Harvest in the UK?

Many autumn-planted varieties are ready during late spring or summer.

The precise timing depends on variety and growing conditions.

What Are the Signs of Maturity?

Look for:

• Several lower leaves naturally yellowing.
• Reduced new growth.
• A well-developed bulb.
• Healthy protective bulb wrappers.

Should Every Leaf Be Brown?

No.

Waiting until all the foliage has died can mean the crop is overmature.

How Do You Check?

Carefully lift one sample plant.

Inspect the bulb before harvesting the entire bed.

How Should Garlic Be Harvested?

Use a garden fork to loosen the soil.

Lift bulbs carefully without pulling hard on the leaves.

Avoid bruising or piercing them.

How Do You Cure Garlic?

Place healthy harvested bulbs somewhere dry, sheltered and well ventilated.

Initial curing usually takes around two to four weeks, depending on conditions.

Avoid excessive heat or damp conditions.

Can You Wash Garlic Before Storage?

Avoid washing bulbs that you intend to store.

Excess moisture can encourage deterioration.

Gently brush away loose soil instead.

Where Should You Store Garlic?

Keep cured bulbs somewhere cool, dry and well ventilated.

Use breathable baskets or mesh bags.

Avoid sealed plastic bags.

Gardening with Ben tip: Don’t rush the drying process. You’ve spent months growing your garlic, so it’s worth giving the harvested bulbs suitable conditions before storing them.

How to Diagnose Garlic Problems Quickly

If your garlic isn’t looking healthy, use this troubleshooting table as a starting point.

Symptom	Possible cause	What to check
Cloves haven’t sprouted	Cold soil, dormant or rotten cloves	Planting date, moisture, condition of sample clove
Leaves yellowing in spring	Water stress, nutrient issue, pests or disease	Soil moisture, roots, leaf symptoms
Bulbs remain small	Overcrowding, shade, drought or late planting	Spacing, sunlight, variety, planting date
Single round bulb	Insufficient cold or immature planting material	Planting time and growing conditions
Orange raised leaf spots	Garlic rust	Pustules and overall plant condition
Plants wilt and roots rot	Waterlogging or serious disease	Drainage and possible white rot symptoms
Thin, weak foliage	Shade, competition or poor nutrition	Light, weeds and soil fertility
Bulbs split before lifting	Harvesting too late	Plant maturity and outer wrappers
Stored bulbs become mouldy	Poor curing, moisture or damaged bulbs	Drying conditions and storage airflow

These symptoms aren’t definitive diagnoses.

Several problems can cause similar changes, so inspect the whole plant and growing conditions.

How to Grow Bigger Garlic Bulbs in the UK

If you’ve previously harvested disappointing garlic, there are several practical changes worth making.

Start with Suitable Varieties

Choose healthy named planting garlic suited to British conditions.

Plant at the Correct Time

Use the supplier’s planting window.

For many varieties, autumn is best.

Choose Full Sun

Avoid heavily shaded beds.

Improve Drainage

Don’t allow garlic to sit in waterlogged soil.

Space Correctly

Allow enough room for each plant to develop.

Remove Weeds

Keep the bed reasonably clear throughout the season.

Water During Spring Drought

Provide moisture when the plant is actively growing.

Maintain Balanced Fertility

Avoid both exhausted soil and excessive fertiliser.

Manage Scapes Where Appropriate

Hardneck garlic commonly produces curling flowering stems.

If bulb size is your priority, removing developing scapes is common practice.

Harvest at the Correct Time

Lift a sample bulb to confirm maturity.

Remember that not every variety naturally produces enormous bulbs.

A healthy, properly matured smaller variety can be just as successful as a larger one.

Can You Save Garlic from a Poor Harvest for Replanting?

Sometimes.

If your bulbs are small but otherwise healthy, suitable cloves may still grow the following year.

However, there are important limits.

When Might Saving Cloves Be Suitable?

If the bulbs are firm, healthy and simply smaller than expected because of dry weather or overcrowding.

When Should You Avoid Saving Them?

Don’t save planting cloves from bulbs that are:

• Rotten.
• Mouldy.
• Soft.
• Showing suspicious disease symptoms.
• Badly damaged.
• Associated with suspected onion white rot.

Can You Replant a Garlic Round?

Yes.

A healthy single round can sometimes be replanted during autumn.

Under suitable conditions, it may develop into a divided bulb the following year.

Is It Better to Buy Fresh Planting Garlic?

If your crop suffered from unexplained disease or serious deterioration, starting with reputable fresh planting stock is the safer approach.

UK Garlic Growing Calendar to Avoid Problems

Month	What to check
January	Winter drainage, frost damage and weed growth
February	Suitable late-winter planting opportunities
March	Spring growth, soil fertility and weeds
April	Moisture, leaf colour and early pest symptoms
May	Developing bulbs, scapes and adequate watering
June	Signs of maturity, rust and early harvest readiness
July	Harvest timing, careful lifting and curing
August	Storage conditions and bulb quality
September	Planting-stock selection and soil preparation
October	Autumn planting dates, depth and spacing
November	Root establishment, drainage and bird disturbance
December	Winter waterlogging and container drainage

The growing calendar varies with your local conditions and the garlic varieties you’re growing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Garlic Growing Mistakes

What is the most common mistake when growing garlic?

Poor planting conditions are a frequent cause of problems, especially waterlogged soil, unsuitable planting times and overcrowding.

Why are my garlic bulbs so small?

Possible reasons include late planting, poor sunlight, overcrowding, drought, inadequate nutrition or unsuitable variety.

Why is my garlic not growing?

Cold weather, dormant cloves, poor drainage, damaged planting material and disease are possible explanations.

Why have my garlic cloves rotted underground?

Persistently wet soil, damaged cloves and certain diseases can cause rotting.

Can garlic get too much water?

Yes. Garlic needs moisture, but prolonged waterlogging can damage roots and bulbs.

Do garlic plants need full sun?

Yes. Garlic grows best in a sunny position.

What happens if you plant garlic too deep?

Excessive depth can delay emergence and may cause problems in heavy, wet soils.

Does garlic grow if planted upside down?

It may still grow, but planting with the pointed end upwards is recommended.

How far apart should garlic cloves be planted?

Approximately 15 cm apart, with around 30 cm between rows, is a useful guide for ordinary culinary garlic.

Is chicken manure good for garlic?

It can provide nutrients when used appropriately, but excessive application may create problems.

Why has my garlic grown leaves but no proper bulb?

The crop may be immature, or unsuitable temperature, day length, variety or growing conditions may have affected bulb development.

Why is my garlic one big clove?

It may have produced a round, an undivided bulb sometimes associated with insufficient cold exposure or immature planting material.

What causes garlic leaves to turn yellow?

Natural maturity, drought, waterlogging, nutrient problems, root damage and disease can all cause yellowing.

What are the orange spots on my garlic?

Raised orange pustules may indicate garlic rust.

Can I still harvest garlic with rust?

Some infected plants can still produce usable bulbs, although severe rust may reduce the harvest. Inspect the bulbs and avoid using diseased material for planting.

What is onion white rot?

It’s a serious soil-borne fungal disease affecting garlic and other alliums. It causes root and bulb decay and can persist in soil for many years.

Should I remove garlic scapes?

Removing developing scapes is common when growing hardneck garlic primarily for bulb production.

Can you plant garlic in pots?

Yes. Choose sufficiently deep containers with good drainage and adequate spacing.

When should garlic be harvested in the UK?

Many autumn-planted varieties are ready during late spring or summer, depending on variety and growing conditions.

Why are my garlic bulbs splitting?

Bulbs may split when left in the ground too long after maturity.

How long should garlic dry after harvesting?

Initial curing commonly takes around two to four weeks under suitable conditions.

Can I save my garlic cloves to plant next year?

Yes, if the bulbs are healthy and suitable for planting. Avoid saving suspicious or diseased material.

Final Thoughts: Avoiding Garlic Growing Mistakes Makes a Real Difference

Garlic is one of the most rewarding vegetables to grow in a UK allotment or garden.

However, getting the basics right is essential if you want healthy plants and a worthwhile harvest.

The good news is that most common garlic growing mistakes are relatively straightforward to prevent.

Start by choosing healthy planting cloves and varieties suited to British conditions.

Plant them at the right time, give them enough space and make sure the growing area receives plenty of sunlight.

During winter, focus on avoiding waterlogged soil.

As spring arrives, keep weeds under control, water during prolonged dry spells and assess whether the plants need additional nutrients.

It’s also worth checking your garlic regularly for unusual symptoms.

A few yellow leaves close to harvest are normal, but unexpected wilting, orange rust spots or decaying roots may indicate a genuine problem.

Then, when summer arrives, don’t rush to harvest simply because the calendar says it’s June or July.

Check that your bulbs are mature before lifting them.

And once you’ve harvested your garlic, make sure it’s properly cured before storing.

If you’ve had a disappointing garlic harvest before, don’t give up.

Think about what might have gone wrong and try improving one or two things next season.

Gardening is always a learning process, and even experienced gardeners have crops that don’t perform as expected.

The important thing is taking what you’ve learned and using it to grow an even better harvest next time.

Keep smiling, keep shining, keep gardening with Ben!