ANYONE who has grown garlic this year should check the crop for lifting any time now. It should be done when the tops of the plants start to die back and the lower leaves begin to go brown. You may still have a few weeks to go, but when you see the leaves decline, stop watering, which will help cure the garlic.

If you’re not sure, dig up a few bulbs and slice them in half. If the cloves fill the skins, they should be ready.

Harvest too early and you will be left with small bulbs which are more difficult to store. Harvest too late and the cloves will be splitting their skins, so are more prone to disease. Lift the bulbs by carefully loosening the soil around them with a fork.