When to plant Garlic in Aberdeen

Work in well-rotted compost or manure around 14th September - 28th September, not fresh. The bed must drain well or cloves rot over winter. Rake to a fine tilth and take out weeds.

Use named planting garlic, not supermarket bulbs. Plant cloves around 28th September - 11th November, pointy end up, with 2.5 cm of soil over the tip. Space them 15 cm apart, in rows 30 cm apart. Firm the soil. Shallow planting makes green cloves.

• Birds pull cloves. Cover the row with fleece or mesh until they root.

Keep the bed weed-free from 5th October - 25th November. Garlic competes poorly with weeds. Mulch with straw or compost to hold moisture and keep weeds down.

On hardneck types, snap off the curly flower scapes as soon as they appear, around 27th March - 9th June 2027. You can eat them. Softneck types almost never make scapes.

Lift bulbs from 26th May 2027 once the leaves start to yellow. Do not delay. Use a fork so you do not nick the bulbs. Keep lifting through 8th August 2027.

Dry the bulbs in a well-ventilated, shaded spot for 2 to 4 weeks, from 26th May - 5th September 2027. Keep them below 30 °C. Trim roots and foliage once the skins are papery, then store somewhere cool and dry.