Growing Garlic in the UK: The Complete Guide
Garlic is one of the most reliable, low-maintenance crops you can grow in the UK. It takes up little space, needs very little attention once planted, and rewards patience with flavours far superior to supermarket bulbs. Whether you’re growing garlic on an allotment, in raised beds, or even in containers, success comes down to timing, drainage, and choosing the right varieties.
Keter Manor Outdoor Apex Double Door Garden Storage Shed (6 x 8ft)
A durable and stylish beige and brown garden storage shed perfect for storing garden tools, equipment, bikes, and outdoor essentials. Weather-resistant, low maintenance, and ideal for any garden or allotment setup.
Seed Trays & Propagation Kits
View Seed Trays
Heated Propagators & Grow Lights
See Grow Lights
Seed Compost for Healthy Seedlings
View Compost
This complete guide covers everything you need to know about growing garlic in the UK, from planting times and soil preparation to care, harvesting, storage, and common mistakes to avoid.
⭐ Recommended Tools & Supplies for Growing Garlic
Garlic doesn’t need much, but the right basics make planting and harvesting far easier and more successful.
• Garden Fork (Not a Spade)
Essential for lifting garlic bulbs without damaging them. Garlic grows deeper than many people expect, and forks reduce the risk of slicing bulbs.
👉 Click here to see top options
• Free-Draining Compost or Grit
Improves drainage in heavier soils and prevents bulbs rotting during wet winters.
👉 Click here to see top options
• Garden Fleece or Cloche
Useful for protecting young garlic shoots from hard frosts and cold winds, especially in exposed sites.
👉 Click here to see top options
• Labels or Garden Markers
Garlic stays in the ground for many months — clear labels help you avoid disturbing it accidentally.
👉 Click here to see top options
Why Grow Your Own Garlic?
Homegrown garlic has several major advantages over shop-bought bulbs:
- Stronger, richer flavour
- Better storage when cured properly
- Reliable growth in UK conditions
- Wide choice of varieties not sold in shops
- Excellent value for space used
Garlic also helps suppress weeds and fits well into most crop rotations.
Garlic Types: Hardneck vs Softneck
Understanding garlic types helps you choose the right variety.
Hardneck Garlic
- Produces a flowering stem (scape)
- Larger cloves
- Stronger flavour
- Less long-term storage
Best for:
- Colder UK regions
- Flavour-focused growing
Softneck Garlic
- No scape
- Smaller cloves, more per bulb
- Better storage
- Often milder flavour
Best for:
- Southern UK
- Longer storage needs
- Braiding
Most UK gardeners can grow both successfully.
When to Plant Garlic in the UK
Autumn Planting (Best Option)
- October to November
- Allows roots to establish before winter
- Produces larger bulbs
Autumn planting gives the best results in most UK gardens.
Spring Planting
- January to March
- Useful if autumn planting was missed
- Slightly smaller bulbs, but still worthwhile
Spring planting is best done as early as possible.
Where to Grow Garlic
Garlic needs sun and drainage above all else.
Ideal conditions:
- Full sun
- Free-draining soil
- Sheltered from strong winds
- Raised beds or ridges in heavy soil
Avoid areas where water sits after rain — garlic hates wet roots.
Soil Preparation
Good soil preparation makes a big difference.
- Clear weeds thoroughly
- Loosen soil to fork depth
- Add grit or sand if soil is heavy
- Avoid fresh manure
Garlic prefers moderately fertile soil. Too much nitrogen causes leafy growth at the expense of bulbs.
How to Plant Garlic (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Break the Bulb into Cloves
- Separate cloves just before planting
- Keep skins intact
- Choose the largest cloves for planting
Step 2: Plant Cloves Point-Up
- Depth: 5–7 cm
- Spacing: 10–15 cm apart
- Rows: 25–30 cm apart
The pointed tip should face upwards.
Step 3: Firm and Water Lightly
- Firm soil gently
- Water once if conditions are dry
- After that, rainfall is usually enough
Growing Garlic in Containers
Garlic grows very well in pots.
Container requirements:
- At least 20 cm deep
- Free-draining compost
- Drainage holes essential
Space cloves evenly and keep containers frost-protected in severe cold.
Caring for Garlic Plants
Garlic is low-maintenance once established.
Watering
- Minimal watering required
- Water during prolonged dry spells only
- Stop watering completely as bulbs mature
Feeding
- No feeding needed initially
- Light feed in spring if growth is weak
- Avoid high-nitrogen fertilisers
Mulching
- Optional but helpful
- Suppresses weeds
- Protects soil in winter
Use straw or compost lightly.
Dealing with Frost and Winter Weather
Garlic is very cold-hardy.
- Frost improves bulb formation
- Young shoots tolerate cold
- Use fleece in extreme weather only
Cold winters are rarely a problem for garlic.
Common Garlic Problems
Waterlogging
Cause:
- Poor drainage
- Heavy clay soil
Fix:
- Raised beds
- Added grit
- Avoid low spots
Yellow Leaves in Spring
Often caused by:
- Nutrient deficiency
- Cold stress
- Overwatering
Usually corrects itself as weather improves.
Garlic Rust
- Orange spots on leaves
- Common in damp summers
Management:
- Improve airflow
- Avoid overcrowding
- Remove affected leaves
Bulbs are usually still usable.
When to Harvest Garlic
Garlic is ready when:
- Lower leaves turn yellow
- Upper leaves still green
- Usually June to July
Do not wait until all leaves die — bulbs may split.
How to Harvest Garlic Properly
- Loosen soil with a fork
- Lift bulbs gently
- Shake off loose soil
- Do not wash bulbs
Handle carefully to avoid bruising.
Curing Garlic (Very Important)
Proper curing improves storage life.
- Lay bulbs in a dry, airy place
- Keep out of direct sunlight
- Cure for 2–3 weeks
- Leaves and skins should dry fully
Good airflow is essential.
Storing Garlic
Once cured:
- Trim roots and stems
- Store in a cool, dry place
- Hang or keep in mesh bags
Softneck garlic stores longest — often 6–9 months.
Saving Garlic for Replanting
Always save your best bulbs.
- Choose largest, healthiest bulbs
- Store separately
- Replant in autumn
This improves crops year after year.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Planting supermarket garlic
❌ Overwatering
❌ Planting in waterlogged soil
❌ Using fresh manure
❌ Harvesting too late
Most garlic failures come down to drainage and timing.
Garlic in Crop Rotation
Garlic fits well into rotations.
- Avoid planting after onions or leeks
- Good after legumes or potatoes
- Helps suppress soil pests
Rotate yearly to reduce disease buildup.
Is Garlic Worth Growing in the UK?
Absolutely.
Garlic:
- Grows reliably
- Needs little care
- Stores well
- Tastes far better than shop-bought
- Is one of the best-value crops per square metre
Even beginners get good results.
Final Thoughts
Growing garlic in the UK is straightforward, rewarding, and well suited to our climate. With the right planting time, good drainage, and a bit of patience, garlic quietly does its thing beneath the soil and delivers a crop that lasts for months.
Plant it once, look after it lightly, and enjoy the satisfaction of pulling perfect bulbs from the ground — garlic is one crop that rarely disappoints when the basics are done right.