Garlic is one of the easiest and most reliable crops you can grow on an allotment — if you plant it at the right time and leave it alone.
Most problems with garlic come from rushing, planting into the wrong conditions, or treating it like onions. Garlic has its own rhythm, and once you understand it, it largely looks after itself.
This guide covers when to plant garlic, how to plant it properly, and how to avoid the common mistakes that lead to small bulbs or rot.
When to Plant Garlic on an Allotment
Timing is the single most important factor with garlic.
Garlic is best planted in autumn, not spring. Autumn planting allows the cloves to establish roots before winter and produce larger bulbs the following summer.
Typical planting windows:
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October to November – ideal for most allotments
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December – possible if soil is workable
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February – spring planting as a fallback, but yields are usually smaller
Garlic needs a period of cold to split properly into cloves. Planting too late reduces bulb size.
Choosing Garlic for Planting
Always use garlic bulbs sold for planting, not supermarket garlic.
Shop-bought garlic is often treated to prevent sprouting and may carry disease. Seed garlic is selected for UK conditions and gives far better results.
There are two main types:
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Hardneck garlic – stronger flavour, produces a flower stalk (scape), slightly smaller bulbs
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Softneck garlic – better for storage, more common, slightly milder
Both grow well on allotments.
Where to Grow Garlic
Garlic needs:
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full sun
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free-draining soil
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minimal disturbance
It hates sitting wet. If your allotment has heavy soil, raised beds or ridges are ideal.
Garlic fits well into no dig systems and doesn’t need feeding if soil is reasonably fertile.
Avoid planting garlic where other alliums (onions, leeks) were grown recently.
How to Plant Garlic
Split the bulb into individual cloves just before planting. Leave the papery skin intact.
Plant cloves:
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pointed end up
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5–7cm deep
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10–15cm apart
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rows about 25–30cm apart
Firm soil gently around each clove. Don’t press hard — garlic roots easily.
If birds are a problem, cover beds lightly with netting until growth is visible.
Looking After Garlic Through Winter and Spring
Garlic is low maintenance.
Over winter, you’ll see little growth above ground. That’s normal. Don’t worry if plants look static for weeks.
In spring, growth picks up naturally. Keep beds weed-free — garlic doesn’t compete well with weeds.
Water only during prolonged dry spells. Overwatering causes more problems than under-watering.
Should You Remove Garlic Scapes?
Hardneck garlic produces a flower stalk (scape) in late spring or early summer.
Removing scapes encourages the plant to put energy into the bulb rather than the flower. They’re edible and taste mild and garlicky.
Softneck garlic does not produce scapes.
Common Garlic Problems (and How to Avoid Them)
Small Bulbs
Usually caused by late planting, poor soil, or overcrowding. Garlic needs time and space.
Rotting Cloves
Almost always caused by waterlogged soil. Drainage matters more than feeding.
Lots of Leaves, Small Bulb
Often caused by overfeeding. Garlic prefers steady, modest conditions.
Harvesting Garlic
Garlic is ready when the lower leaves turn yellow but several green leaves remain.
Lift bulbs carefully on a dry day. Don’t pull by the leaves — loosen soil first.
Avoid leaving garlic in the ground too long or bulbs may split.
Drying and Storing Garlic
Dry garlic somewhere airy and dry for two to three weeks.
Once skins feel papery, trim roots and either braid or store bulbs somewhere cool and dry.
Properly cured garlic can store for several months.
How Garlic Fits Into an Allotment Plan
Garlic occupies beds over winter but is harvested early summer, freeing space for salads, beans, or brassicas.
It’s an excellent crop for no dig systems and pairs well with onions in a rotation.
Once established, garlic quietly delivers without fuss.
Final Thoughts
Garlic rewards patience more than effort.
Plant it at the right time, give it decent soil, and leave it alone. Do that, and it’s one of the most dependable crops on an allotment.