Garlic

Garlic is easy to grow.

Plant in the cool months of winter. It needs a period in cool soil to grow well but can rot if the soil is consistently soggy.

Break the large outer cloves from a bulb (bought at the local supermarket) and plant flat end down, so that the pointed end is about an inch from the soil surface. Cloves should be planted about 4 inches apart.

An area of about 1m by 1m should grow enough garlic to last a year for most families.

Harvest your garlic in summer , when the tips of the leaves are dry and brown. Leave it in a sheltered spot for a day or so to allow the outer skin to dry, then brush off any dry soil and store.

There are a number of ways to store garlic including braiding. I usually tie about 10 plants together with string and hang them in the shed.