When should I lift garlic?

When the tops have withered, carefully lift the bulbs with a fork.

In dry warm weather they may be left on the surface of the soil to ripen in the sun.

If the weather is inclement, then place them on either mesh or slatted shelves to dry.

Once dried rope them up or place them in a net bag and hang them up in a cool dry place.

l would like to grow my own garlic, how do I go about it?

Garlic can be grown quite successfully in the UK.

It needs a light, fertile soil and a sunny situation, and a long growing season

Plant out the cloves, (the individual segments that make up a bulb), any time from mid October to early December.

Plant the cloves 150mm (6") apart in rows 400mm (14") apart, covering them with about 25mm(1") of soil.

Keep the ground between the bulbs clear of weeds.

The bulbs should be ready for harvesting in July after the foliage has withered.