Garlic Sets
Homegrown Garlic – Fresh, Flavourful & Easy to Grow from Johnstown Garden Centre
Aromatic Garlic
Growing garlic at home is a simple and rewarding way to enjoy fresh, flavourful, and nutrient-rich bulbs straight from your garden. Whether you use it for cooking, preserving, or medicinal benefits, homegrown garlic is far superior to store-bought alternatives. At Johnstown Garden Centre, we offer high-quality garlic sets suited to Irish growing conditions, ensuring strong, healthy plants that produce aromatic, long-lasting cloves.
When & How to Plant Garlic in Ireland
Garlic is best planted in autumn for a summer harvest or in early spring for a slightly later crop. Autumn planting allows bulbs to establish strong roots over winter, resulting in larger, more robust cloves at harvest time. Choose a sunny, sheltered location with well-drained soil, and plant the individual cloves pointed end up, around 3-5cm deep and 10-15cm apart. Garlic benefits from a layer of mulch to protect it from harsh frosts and keep weeds at bay.
Caring for Your Garlic Crop
Once planted, garlic requires minimal care. Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, and ensure your plants receive plenty of sunlight to encourage strong growth. In spring, a high-potassium fertiliser can help boost bulb development. Hardneck varieties will produce garlic scapes, which should be removed to allow the bulbs to focus energy on growing larger. These scapes are edible and can be used in a variety of dishes for a mild garlic flavour.
Harvesting & Storing Homegrown Garlic
Garlic is ready to harvest when the lower leaves begin to turn yellow and die back, usually from June to August, depending on planting time. Lift the bulbs carefully with a fork and allow them to dry in a warm, airy place for two to three weeks before storing. Properly cured garlic can last for months, giving you a steady supply of homegrown flavour for your kitchen.
