Growing guide
How to grow garlic in Ireland
Garlic starts with a clove, not a seed, and needs drainage as much as patience. Autumn planting gives a route to early-summer bulbs; spring planting is another option. The main challenge is keeping roots healthy through wet weather and lifting before bulbs split. Hardneck and softneck types also differ in their stems and keeping qualities.
On this page
At a glance
- Start with
- Individual sound cloves of a named planting variety
- Best position
- Light to medium, freely draining soil; raised beds help on heavy ground
When and where to start
Planting cloves. Plant from October to mid-December for a June or July harvest, or in February and March for July or August. Garlic needs cold exposure to initiate bulbing, received during storage or after planting. Choose a variety suited to the intended planting season.
Planting and spacing
Separate the bulb into cloves for planting and keep sound cloves about 1 cm across or larger. Leave the basal plate intact; larger cloves generally produce larger bulbs.
Place the basal plate downwards at 5–7 cm depth, with about 20 × 20 cm spacing in Teagasc’s method. Do not plant a whole bulb as though it were one clove.
Label autumn and spring batches separately. On heavy soil, improve drainage or use a raised bed: hardiness does not mean tolerance of a permanently waterlogged root zone.
Routine care
Water during dry spells, particularly while bulbs are developing around May to July. Keep weeds from competing and monitor the crop as summer approaches.
If hardneck plants produce flowering stems, called scapes, snap them off so the plant directs growth towards the bulb. Scapes can be used in cooking. Do not wait until every leaf has died before checking maturity.
What to watch for
Rust is the main disease highlighted by Teagasc. Examine foliage rather than assuming every yellowing leaf means either rust or harvest readiness.
Dry soil can reduce yield and bring maturity forward. Splitting bulbs indicate that lifting has been delayed; a small early bulb is not necessarily proof of the wrong planting date.
Harvest and storage
Lift carefully when foliage starts yellowing or around 10% of tops have fallen. Avoid bruising the bulbs, then dry in a light airy place, on mesh or in small hanging bunches. Teagasc describes roughly four or five weeks for drying.
Trim only once dry, leaving protective outer skins around the cloves. Store cool, dry and ventilated, never in plastic that traps moisture. Check the bulbs regularly instead of assuming the best reported storage period applies to household conditions.
Common questions
Can supermarket garlic be planted?
It may grow, but Teagasc warns about clone suitability and possible growth-regulator treatment. Named planting varieties are a more dependable choice.
What is the difference between hardneck and softneck?
Hardnecks make a stiff central flowering stalk; softnecks generally keep well and lack that same central structure.
Should I wait for the leaves to die completely?
No. Begin checking when foliage yellows; bulbs that split open have been left too long.