If there’s anything we can agree on, it’s that garlic is a must-have in the kitchen. From stir-fries to bread, garlic not only adds flavour to our dishes but is also extremely beneficial to our health. Garlic is known to support immune function and reduce inflammation, and can even protect from the common cold.
Not only is the vegetable good for our health, but the health of our gardens, too. Garlic can deter pests, improve solid health and enhance the growth of plants around it. The best companion plants include winter favourites, beetroot, broccoli, carrots and cauliflower, as well as spinach, strawberries and even tomatoes. If you have roses on your property, garlic’s aroma will deter aphids and other fungal diseases, ensuring your roses have the best chance.
When to plant: Between April and July
Position: Full sun
Soil type: Free-draining soil, rich in organic matter
Water: Keep the soil damp and water well on hot days
Harvest: After 180 days
Top tips for planting garlic
How to plant garlic
To set yourself up for success, make sure your soil is as good as can be. If planting into an existing garden bed, add in organic matter such as compost and sheep pallets and mix with your original soil. Use a specific vegetable mix if you’re planting your cloves in pots.
Once you have your bulb (purchase this from a garden centre rather than a supermarket, where it’s likely to have been treated), break it up into individual cloves. Plant each clove 15 – 20 cm apart, approximately 5cm deep. Water in the cloves and feed with a seafood fertiliser (this one from Trade Tested would do the trick) every 4 to 6 weeks. Shoots should appear after a month.
When to plant your cloves
Garlic can be planted anytime from April to July in New Zealand. Consider planting the garlic every week or fortnight to ensure you have plenty of garlic to accomplish a long and successful harvest.
What not to plant with garlic
As beneficial as garlic may be, there are many plants that will suffer if planted to closely to the vegetable. Onions for example should be planted away from garlic, including spring onions and ornamental onions. Herbs such as chives, parsley and sage should also keep their distance as garlic’s powerful aroma and flavour may adversely affect their taste. Finally, beans, leeks and peas should also be planted elsewhere.
Some of our favourite garlic recipes:
How to know when garlic is ready to harvest
After six months the shoots will begin to die back, signalling the garlic is ripe and ready! Be careful when digging up the garlic as you don’t want to break it apart, so carefully dig up with a fork. Then leave to dry above ground for a couple of days to a week, before storing them in your pantry, or anywhere away from direct sunlight. The longer you keep them in a cool, dark place, the more time you’ll allow the flavour to develop.
More gardening guides:
- How to grow a mandarin tree
- How to grow hydrangeas
- How to grow raspberries
- How to grow lavender
- How to grow passionfruit
- How to grow feijoas
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
