Go for garlic 

There’s something deeply satisfying about growing your own garlic, and it’s surprisingly easy to do. Better still, you don’t need much space to harvest a decent crop and even become self-sufficient in organic garlic. To put that into perspective, if you use two bulbs a week, you will need to grow about 100 bulbs for a year’s supply, plus a few extra to set aside for replanting next season. That entire harvest can be grown in an area of just 2-3 square metres. If you can spare a bed or two, a year of pungent home-grown bulbs is well within reach. 

Getting started 

The most important factor in growing garlic is selecting a cultivar that suits the local conditions. To narrow the choice, ask other local gardeners what cultivars they’ve had success with, or chat to growers at your local farmers’ market – they’re often a good source of planting stock, too. Keep in mind that garlic can carry viruses, so don’t be shy about asking if they had any issues with their crop. For a clean, reliable start, source bulbs from a reputable garden centre, or online. 

Find out all you need to know about selecting and growing the best garlic variety for your area, in our April issue, out now! 

Photo: iStock