Article by James Carter ( Free Seeds on their way! )

Lots of garlic instructions say plant from November till January, many just say November.

The general theory is that they need to grow some roots before the frosts come.

The reason for this is two fold :

1. They will need a good root structure to last the frosts.

2. Garlic needs at least one month in soil constantly under 10 C, if it does not have this it will most likely not form cloves, it will just form a 'round' ( a single build like an onion ). Interestingly if you lift the rounds in the summer, you can plant them again in the autumn and they will form extra large garlic cloves the next year.

So the later you plant them the more chance they will have of not producing the garlic you want, but if you are looking for something to do in January its worth a go, especially if it has been a mild winter thus far.

I like to plant them a little deeper also so they are more protected from the elements.

Then leave them to grow and pick when the leaves start to turn brown at the end of the summer.