Organic Farming - Garlic !

We started planting garlic fives years ago. This began by buying a few kgs of bulbs from a commercial garlic grower in the area and planting them in our newly fenced veggie patch. That season we were so alert to each and every occurance until finally we harvested our first crop of organically grown garlic.

Since then we have never bought garlic again for planting. What we do is store a portion of each harvest especially for the next year, the rest is either used or sold. Around February we plant the new seasons garlic in beds mixed with rich compost made from our various animals manures (Horse, cattle, chicken).  We follow this up with dressings of compost and organic fertiliser during the growing season.

Harvesting is done around October/November when the bulbs are dug up and left to dry on the soil surface. They are finally collected and braided into bunches to be stored in a cool place. The best of the crop is then selected next years planting.

Currently we share the crop with friends and family and make a chilli garlic preserve called "Cheeky Chilli Garlic".

It is a pleasure to eat good garlic and we would encourage every one with a bit of space and inclination, to separate a bulb or two bought from the supermarket and plant it in a sunny spot with good compost. Planting root side down about 5/7cm below ground, spaced 7.5cm in the row and rows 12 cm apart.