When to plant or sow Garlic?

Garlic thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, so choose an open position away from shade. It performs best in sandy or loam soils that don't become waterlogged in winter. Before planting, dig over the bed and work in some well-rotted compost or garden manure to improve structure, but avoid freshly manured ground, which can cause bulbs to rot. Plant garlic cloves in October or November for the best yields, as the cold period encourages strong root development and larger bulbs. You can also plant in February or March if you missed the autumn window, though bulbs may be slightly smaller. Break the bulb into individual cloves just before planting, keeping the papery skin intact. Choose the largest, healthiest cloves from the outer ring; small inner cloves produce poor plants. Push each clove into the soil pointed end upwards, so the tip sits about 2–3 cm below the surface. Space cloves 15 cm apart in rows 20–30 cm apart to allow air circulation and room for bulbs to swell. If your soil is heavy clay, plant cloves in modules under cover and transplant young plants out in spring, or grow in raised beds to improve drainage. After planting, firm the soil gently around each clove. Water lightly if the soil is dry, but garlic dislikes wet conditions, so don't overdo it. In exposed gardens, birds sometimes pull up freshly planted cloves; cover rows with fleece or netting for a few weeks if this is a problem. Mulch lightly with garden compost in late winter to suppress weeds, but keep mulch away from the stems to prevent rot.