Growing Garlic in the Scottish Climate

Guest post blog by Katrina & Clayton

While Garlic has been named both a herb and spice, it is actually a root vegetable! Garlic has vegetable characteristics because it has a bulb, tall stem and long leaves. However, it is used more like a spice or herb than as a vegetable as it is usually added to dishes in minimal amounts.

Garlic (Allium sativum) is a hardy, versatile plant that thrives in a wide range of climates, including Scotland’s cool, damp conditions. Although Scotland’s shorter growing season and higher rainfall may present some challenges, selecting the right variety and providing appropriate care can lead to a garlic harvest.

In Scotland, where the climate tends to be cooler and wetter, garlic should be planted in the Autumn to allow the bulbs to establish before Winter.

Garlic is sensitive to excessive moisture, which can lead to rot. Therefore, selecting the right planting location and improving soil drainage is key. Raised beds, containers or well aerated garden beds with sandy or loamy soil work well for growing garlic in Scotland.

The two main types of garlic are hardneck and softneck. Hardneck varieties are more suited to Scotland’s colder Winters and will produce scapes, the edible flower stalks. Softneck varieties store longer and are better suited to milder areas.

Garlic bulbs are widely used in cooking for their strong, distinctive flavour, but other parts of the plant are also edible and worth exploring. The scapes or flower stalks offer a milder garlic taste and are excellent in stir fries, pestos, and sautés. The young green leaves can be finely chopped and added fresh to salads, soups and sauces for a subtle garlicky note.

Even the flowers are edible, providing both a delicate flavour and a decorative touch when sprinkled over dishes, making garlic a versatile plant from root to bloom.

Planting Garlic

In Scotland, garlic is best planted in Autumn to late Winter. This allows the cloves to develop strong roots before Winter, leading to better growth in the spring. If planting in Spring, choose early maturing varieties, but note that Spring planted garlic often produces smaller bulbs.

How to Plant Garlic

Choose Healthy Cloves: Select large, disease free cloves from a reputable supplier. Avoid using supermarket garlic, as they may have been treated to prevent sprouting.

Prepare the Soil: Garlic prefers well draining, nutrient rich soil 

Planting Depth and Spacing:  Plant cloves 4 cm deep, pointed end up, and space them 15 cm apart with 30 cm between rows. As we use these round vegebags so ours are placed closer and dotted around for best space and still grow well at these distances.

Mulching: Apply a layer of straw or leaf mulch to protect the cloves from harsh Winter weather and help retain moisture.

Caring for Garlic

Watering

Garlic requires consistent moisture but dislikes waterlogged soil. In Scotland, excessive rainfall can be a problem, so ensure soil drains well. During dry spells in Spring and early Summer, water moderately, but stop watering two to three weeks before harvesting to prevent rot.

Weed Control

Garlic does not compete well with weeds. Keep the area weed free by hand weeding or using mulch to suppress unwanted growth.

Protecting Against Pests and Diseases

Common issues in Scotland include:

Leek Rust: A fungal disease causing orange spots on leaves. Improve air circulation and avoid overhead watering.

White Rot: A soil borne fungus that causes rotting bulbs. Practice crop rotation and avoid planting garlic in the same spot for at least three years.

Onion Fly: Prevent infestations by using row covers and interplanting with pest repelling plants like carrots and mint.

Companion Planting with Garlic

Garlic is a great companion plant due to its natural pest repelling properties. It helps deter aphids, slugs and even larger pests like rabbits and deer.

Best Companion Plants

Carrots: Garlic repels carrot flies.

Tomatoes: Helps deter spider mites and improves flavour.

Cabbages and Broccoli: Repels cabbage worms and other brassica pests.

Strawberries: Enhances fruit production and deters slugs.

Lettuce and Spinach: Grows well alongside garlic without competing for resources.

Poor Companion Plants

Beans and Peas: Garlic inhibits their growth.

Asparagus: Competes for nutrients and space.

Best Soil for Growing Garlic

Garlic grows best in well draining, fertile soil and getting the soil conditions right is one of the most important steps for a healthy and productive crop, especially in Scotland’s climate. Heavy clay soils should be avoided as they retain too much water, which can easily lead to bulb rot, while very light sandy soils may dry out too quickly and require the addition of organic matter to help retain essential moisture. 

Ideally, garlic should be planted in loamy or sandy soil that balances drainage with moisture retention, creating the perfect environment for bulbs to expand. A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5, slightly acidic to neutral, is considered optimal for garlic to take up nutrients efficiently. Caledonian Green Goodness soil would work well for this.

Mulching is also highly recommended, not only to help suppress weeds and reduce competition but also to regulate soil moisture levels, protecting the developing bulbs from excessive rainfall and fluctuations in temperature. Getting the right soil conditions you can get a generous harvest of healthy, full flavoured garlic.

Harvesting Garlic

Garlic is ready to harvest when the leaves begin to turn yellow and fall over, which in Scotland usually happens in July or August for garlic planted the previous Autumn. To harvest, carefully dig up the bulbs with a fork or spade, taking care not to damage them as bruising can affect their ability to store well. 

Once lifted, garlic should be cured by drying in a well ventilated, shaded area for two to three weeks, allowing the outer skins to become papery and the bulbs to fully dry. Proper curing ensures longer storage and preserves the garlic’s flavour and quality.

In Scotland, garlic is best planted in Autumn through to early Winter, giving the bulbs a head start for the following year’s crop and allowing gardeners to plan for succession planting once the harvest is lifted. By choosing hardy, suitable varieties and ensuring they are set in well drained soil, garlic can establish strong roots before the worst of winter sets in. Careful management of soil moisture is also key, as overly wet conditions can damage developing bulbs. Whether grown directly in the ground, in raised beds or even in containers, these practices help ensure a reliable and successful garlic harvest.

Katrina & Clayton

Katrina & Clayton live with their family in East Ayrshire in Scotland and share their daily life in the garden on instagram @buildingfoodforest_scotland. They practice permaculture principles, reducing & repurposing waste whenever they can. Katrina shows how home educating in nature has helped Clayton thrive.

Clayton Completed The Grow and Learn Course with the Royal Caledonian Horticultural Society in 2022. This year he will be completing Level 2 Nurture Course. Clayton is 16, Autistic, Non Verbal & has been Home Educated for the last 6yrs. Both Katrina and husband Peter have studied the Permaculture Design Course PDC and PDC Pro over the last 5yrs, developing their garden from grass to an ongoing food forest.

They have featured on BBC Beechgrove Gardens, Gardeners World Magazine and write for Scotland Grows Magazine.  Katrina has a series of children’s story books out following the life of Clayton in the garden. Available at Amazon.

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