Reader's question

JOAN often walks in the woods near Middleton-One-Row and loves the wild garlic that is growing there at this time of year. She wants to know how she can get some to grow at the bottom of her garden, in a semishaded area which has a few mature trees. She has heard that it can be eaten. Is this true?

FOR me, the smell of wild garlic brings back happy childhood memories of playing in the woods. It is the woodland habitat that it flourishes in, among or near bluebells and anemones, but always in semishade and on moist soil.

Leaf growth starts from late winter and by mid-spring the green carpet is topped by a blaze of starry white flowers. The flowers will self-pollinate, to be replaced by a seed pod which starts out white and gradually turns black. These seeds can be harvested and sown in moist, free-draining soil.

It may take six to nine months to see anything coming up, but in a few years, the thin green stalks will turn into your very own clump of wild garlic. Be warned though: once established, they do have a tendency to thrive.

Garlic that is cultivated in your own garden can be dug up and divided in a similar fashion to snowdrops and daffodils. It is illegal to remove the plants from the wild.

Despite resembling and growing in similar conditions to lily of the valley and the autumn crocus, wild garlic is completely non-toxic, and even quite delicious and beneficial to the body if eaten. Unlike kitchen garlic, the leaves are preferred to the bulb and can be thrown into salads or mashed potato, made into pesto or turned into soup.

Garlic has antioxidant properties and sulphur compounds which means that it is great for wounds, reducing blood pressure and cholesterol.

Jobs this week

■ Pinch out the top growing tips of chrysanthemums and sweet peas in order to promote bushier growth at the sides and more flowers.

■ Sow broccoli, sprouts and cabbages individually in small multi-cell trays in order to avoid having to go through the tedium of pricking out and then potting on.

■ If you have bought or have grown your own bedding plants start hardening them off by placing them outside during the warmer days, but remembering to bring them back indoors at night.

THE inaugural Gardeners’ World awards are asking for members to vote for their favourite gardening radio programme. All local and national gardening radio programmes are eligible. Voting closes on May 15 and results will be revealed in the July issue of the Gardeners’ World magazine. Vote on gardenersworld.com/awards

Woodn’t it be lovely?

May is Walk in the Woods months according to the Tree Council. All over the country there are organised walks, events and activities. For a list of events visit treecouncil.org.uk

■ Brigid co-presents the BBC Tees Green, Gardening and Great Outdoors show every Sunday from 11am to 2pm. Questions can be answered on the day by e-mailing brigid.press@bbc.co.uk anytime during the week, or texting 07786-200995 and phoning 01642-225511 during the show.

Written queries can be addressed to Brigid at Lazy DayzPlant Centre, Farm Road, Houghall, Durham, DH1 3SG.