Get into gardening

The aroma that you get from onions and garlic is that bit more enticing knowing that you've grown them yourself. Not only is it fun, but it's easy and cheap too.

When to plant?

Garlic: January – March

Onion: February – April

When to harvest?

Garlic: July – September

Onion: August – October

Where to plant?

Well-drained soil beds or large containers in a sunny position.

What to do:

Firstly, you need to make sure your soil is well-drained by adding 1/3 compost and gravel mix to 1/3 soil. This can be done using a garden fork, turning the three together.

Plant the cloves/bulbs roughly 5cm deep and 10cm apart, in rows that are about 20cm apart. Make sure that these have plenty to drink. Keep on top of weeds by pulling them out, using a trowel to loosen up any large weeds.

Water your plants once a week if the weather is dry, and occasionally feed with a general liquid fertiliser that's been mixed with water.

Your onions and garlic will be ready to pick when you notice the leaves turn yellow and die back. You can do this by gently lifting with a garden fork.

Lay the bulbs with their leaves left on in a warm, dry place so that they dry out. Onions with thick necks should be used first, as they don't keep well. Make sure that leaves are completely dry before storing in a dark, cool and dry place. They're best used within 6 months.