Liz Dobbs visits The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight to pick up some growing tips from owner Colin Boswell
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| The Garlic Farm owner Colin Boswell surveys his crop
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'We get bulbs 150mm in diameter here, but anyone should be able to get 100mm-diameter bulbs by planting in October into fertile, well-drained soil and harvesting from the end of May.'
Colin Boswell, owner of the Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight, grew up of the Island and decided to specialise in garlic when he saw how well it did in his mother's garden. Over the years he has noticed changes in the climate which benefit garlic crops: 'Summers are hotter and winters not as hard, so we can grow better quality garlic,' he says. At the farmyard, the garlic shop is popular – visitors and locals alike can collect garlic for the kitchen or the garden.
Easy to grow in the UK
'Anyone can grow garlic in the UK,' enthuses Colin, who recommends elephant garlic for those who are nervous of strong flavours. 'We get bulbs 150mm in diameter here, but anyone should be able to get 100mm-diameter bulbs by planting in October into fertile, well-drained soil and harvesting from the end of May. The floral spike is pretty, but snap it off for good bulb development.' Colin recommends planting out cloves 15cm (6in) apart in the row, or 10cm (4in) if cloves are small, leaving 37-45cm (15-18in) between rows.
Varieties to try
Colin grows many varieties. He sources some from France and others from the Middle East (Central Asia is the origin of garlic). 'Early Wight' is of Chinese origin, a purple garlic with a little flower spike that doesn't need snapping off. An early variety, bulbs should be 50-60mm diameter by 20 May.
'Purple Wight' is a second early that makes big leafy growth for instant eating. 'Iberian' or 'Solent White Garlic' are most rewarding to grow and the garlic farm also sells a Garlic Lover's Growing Pack of six different varieties.
Look further
The Garlic Farm has an online shop. Varieties available from September 2007 include an improved selection of 'Solent Wight', notable for its large, quality bulbs, which keeps very well; elephant garlic, producing a 1.5m (5ft) tall flowering head and bulbs approximately 13-15cm (5-6in) across, ideal for roasting; and white Hispanic softneck garlic with large bulbs that can exceed 12cm (5in) and grows very well in the UK.
The Garlic Festival takes place every August in the tiny village of Newchurch on the Isle of Wight. Mersley Farm, adjacent to the Garlic Farm, offers holiday cottage accommodation for those visiting the Isle of Wight.
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| Mersley Farm offers self-catering accommodation for tourists
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