Position: Full sun

Soil: A forgiving plant to grow; avoid over-manuring your chosen plot; and avoid fertilising with a high nitrogenous product because garlic is a bulb. One to two months before I plant, I apply dolomite to the garden bed to sweeten the soil and to add calcium and magnesium. About two weeks before planting, I stir in a general fertilizer, e.g. Multigrow. If growing in a container, use a premium potting mix.

Planting Time: Early May on my site, that is when the soil has cooled, to harvest in late November to early December.

Planting Measurements: 5 to 8 cm deep and 10 to 12 cm apart.

Fertilizing: In July/August, use a fertilizer that contains a high measure of phosphorus to assist bulb development. I often use superphosphate.

Avoid a nitrogenous product otherwise leaf growth will take over at the expense of growth in the bulbs.

 You can catch ABC Gardening’s Tino Carnevale talk about garlic at abc.net.au/gardening/factsheets/glory-of-garlic/9752944

Choose autumn coloured trees when they are in leaf so that you can assess them for your purposes and preferences. Read the labels and consult with the nursery as to their suitability for your climatic zone, your soil type and whether their growing height and width match your requirements.

Choose Camellia sasanquas while they are flower to assess whether they meet your colour, height and shape preferences and their preference for an acidic soil type. 

Sasanquas make a low labour hedge because they need not be pruned and because they do not have to be disbudded. A one colour variety is best so that they all flower concurrently.