AS THE summer season begins winding down towards autumn, it is the best time to begin planning and prepping for next season’s garlic crop.

Dedicated garlic farmer, Vele Civijovski of Garlic Kingdom, has some helpful tips for home gardeners who would like to grow their own crops of this wonderfully tasty and versatile herb.

Vele has been developing a range of educational and training programs, which compliment his gardening workshops, and which are designed to assist home growers in sampling and choosing which varieties of garlic they would like to grow at home, as well as which cultivars would be best suited to their region.

But a change of season also offers a good opportunity to ask yourself some questions, according to Vele, to be better prepared before planting begins.:

• How much are you planning to plant?

• Do you have sufficient space, or are more beds required?

• What needs to be done to ensure beds are ready in time for planting?

• Which types of garlic would grow best in your climate?

• Where can you source them locally to ensure successful growth?

• What will it cost for seeds and materials?

Vele uses raised Hugelkultur garden beds to grow his garlic. Unconventional, but very successful and the easiest method for backyard growers.

Done correctly, these beds will provide better moisture and nutrient retention as well as excellent weed suppression.

It’s all about providing the best start to get the best results.

“But gardening is not just for farmers and adults,” Vele said.

“Beginning the learning process at the grassroots level, as well as starting out on a smaller scale, will lead to far better success for home gardeners starting their own food garden journey.

“Gardening is wonderful way to enjoy the health benefits of being out amongst the greenery, in the sunshine and fresh air.

Vele has held several successful gardening workshops at the Cooma Community Garden. A popular stall-holder at various markets around the region, he is always happy to share his extensive knowledge with anyone who is keen to know more about growing, storing and enjoying using their garlic in their daily culinary preparations.

Most of the garlic types can handle, and generally prefer, cooler climes, and Vele suggests growers take some advantage of this via natural selection, to expand their growing efforts into mid and late season types and then see and taste the difference, as these types provide sharper and spicier flavours, and display a higher resistance to disease.

Vele is working hard to build on the foundations he has established over the last couple of years.

He is looking forward to holding more workshops and providing further training packages throughout 2025. Vele is keen to become more involved with further educational institutions within the Snowy Monaro region.

Vele has seed stock available yearly, generally from January onwards and releases new stock items regularly as the garlic types complete their curing.

Once cured, Vele begins the hands-on analysis of each bulb, where they are graded for size and quality.

Grading seed stock is an arduous process, being done manually, but it ensures Vele’s customers receive only the best stock for seed.

But the shelves at Garlic Kingdom are filled with crates and trays with their unique identifiers; seed for sale, seed for planting, and culinary stock.

The number of items in the ‘garlic library’ is continuing to grow and Garlic Kingdom now grows and manages 50 different garlic varieties.