Garlic Bulbs – Growing Garlic in Scotland

When to Pre-Order Garlic in Scotland

Garlic pre-orders open in August on Growseed. Ordering early guarantees access to popular and cold-tolerant varieties like ‘Mikulov Wight’ and ‘Carcassonne Wight’, ideal for Scottish conditions. Stock is limited, especially for hardneck types, so order as early as possible.

When to Plant Garlic in Scotland

Scotland’s shorter, wetter growing season means timing and variety choice are crucial:

• Autumn (October–November): Choose only cold-hardy varieties like hardnecks. These benefit from winter chill, helping bulb formation, but require free-draining soil or raised beds to prevent rot.
• Spring (February–March): Best in upland or exposed areas with heavy, wet soils. Spring planting avoids overwinter losses and still gives good yields with softneck types.

How to Grow Garlic in Scotland

Garlic prefers full sun and light, free-draining soil. In much of Scotland, raised beds or ridges are essential to improve drainage and avoid bulb rot. Plant cloves 2–3cm deep and 15cm apart, pointed end up. Avoid fresh manure and rotate crops yearly. Water as needed, but reduce watering in late spring as bulbs mature.

When to Harvest Garlic in Scotland

Garlic planted in autumn is usually ready to harvest from mid to late July, while spring-planted bulbs mature in August. Lift bulbs when the lower leaves turn yellow but the tops are still partly green. Dry well in a sheltered, airy space before storing to prevent mould.

Tips for Growing Garlic in Scotland

• Pre-order in August to get cold-hardy varieties
• Use raised beds or ridges to avoid waterlogging
• Choose hardnecks for autumn planting, softnecks for spring
• Harvest before full dieback for best flavour and storage
• Avoid growing garlic on the same site two years running

Recommended Garlic Varieties for Scotland

• Elephant Garlic – Mild, large-bulbed garlic; thrives in fertile, sunny beds
• Solent Wight – Reliable softneck; spring sowing preferred in colder regions
• Picardy Wight – Well suited to cooler climates; works for both planting windows
• Carcassonne Wight – Cold-hardy hardneck; excellent for autumn planting in Scotland
• Mikulov Wight – Robust Czech hardneck, highly suited to northern growing
• Maddock Wight – Early harvesting softneck; best for spring planting in exposed sites

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