When to plant Garlic in Bath

Work in well-rotted compost or manure around 19th September - 3rd October, not fresh. The bed must drain well or cloves rot over winter. Rake to a fine tilth and take out weeds.

Use garlic sold for planting, not supermarket bulbs. Choose a named variety sold as seed garlic. Plant individual cloves around 3rd October - 16th 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.

Mulch once after planting, around 10th October - 30th November, with straw or compost. That holds moisture and keeps weeds down. Garlic competes poorly with weeds, so keep pulling weeds as they show.

On hardneck types, snap scapes when they appear, around 1st April - 14th June 2027. You can eat them. Softneck types almost never make scapes.

Lift bulbs through 31st May - 13th August 2027, when the lower leaves yellow. Use a fork so you do not nick the bulbs.

Dry the bulbs in a well-ventilated, shaded spot for 2 to 4 weeks, from 31st May - 10th September 2027. Keep them below 30 °C. Trim roots and foliage once the skins are papery, then store somewhere cool and dry.