Heather gets pretty obsessed with her garlic and its growing, She normally plants some of the largest fattest from the previous year on or around matarangi or the shortest day and keeps it weed free .As she tells me garlic needs the frost to germinate (if your too late planting then stick it in the freezer) . The harvesting then takes place near the 20th December (or christmas eve this year !) through a nice dry period as this then gets the flavour to be nice and strong. Heather then dries on a wire rack thats turn once a day in the sun until the paper skins harden up . Although it is very hard to wait and we do use it too early sometimes but never mind , young garlic is lovely sautéed like spring onion . Heather's had a go at plaiting but is not very good at it , the key thing is to trim all the roots of as these will take moisture back in - that's why you should never buy imported chinese garlic as they spray the roots to stop them re forming - not very nice !! New Zealand especially here in Hawkes Bay and even more down south has a great climate to grow garlic - have a go this winter - plant it deep and then watch it grow - all it needs is water.