Locally-grown garlic: How autumn's most important harvest begins

Autumn when the garlic must be planted

Unlike most vegetables we harvest now, September for us is also about planting – especially when it comes to garlic. Here on the farm in Fjære we start our locally-produced garlic work when September arrives.

Garlic is a long-cycle crop: the plants must go through a cold period to divide and form bulbs. September and October are therefore critical months.

How we do it

• We divide the field into sections based on how much sunlight they receive
• Each clove from the garlic bulb is planted separately 15-20 cm apart
• Deep soil cultivation ensures the bulbs have room to grow underground throughout the winter
• A thick layer of mulch protects the plants from frost

Agder's advantages for garlic

The climate around Grimstad and the Agder region is actually ideal for garlic growing. We get just enough chill hours, but not such extreme winters that plants die. The result is garlic with fantastic quality and intense flavor.

Next June we will harvest this garlic. Completely local, completely fresh, completely from our soil to your kitchen.