Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat
Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Pimento on November 10, 2017, 08:01
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I’m about to plant a big bed of wild garlic bulbs on the plot - love the stuff. Can anyone see a reason why I shouldn’t plant some tulips through them, for extra colour and for cutting? Obviously I’d have to be careful not to confuse the foliage, but shouldn’t really be a problem, as far as I can see.
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Wild garlic doesn't half spread would be my only comment! Lovely stuff and everywhere where I live so no need to plant it.
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Wild garlic doesn't half spread would be my only comment! Lovely stuff and everywhere where I live so no need to plant it.
I can confirm that it does spread... a lot. I used to have some in my garden. I also love the stuff and would love to grow some on my plot, but as it's found in abundance around here I would probably only grow a small amount and in a container.
Does wild garlic have to be planted now, or can it be done early next year?
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I'd plant wild garlic now if it were me, as then it has a chance to get roots down ready for growing in the Spring. Ours has spread like billy-oh but it is delicious and we do eat a fair bit of it, flowers as well
My only query about using tulips is that they originate from dry "Turkish" regions and wild garlic is a damp shady area plant... would the tulips thrive?
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Good point, Sunshineband! I’m putting the garlic in a part of the plot that’s overhung with sycamore trees, and in such deep shade for most of the year that only woodland plants will grow there. However, I’m thinking that early tulips will be in bloom before the trees are in leaf, so should hopefully get sufficient light?
Wild garlic seems a great option for this spot because sadly very little else that’s edible will grow.
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Don't recall seeing tulips growing in shady conditions, so I think they might well struggle, but if you don't try you'll never know - a few planted in the least shaded spot won't break the bank if they fail to thrive.
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A little research and it appears many tulips do well in woodland conditions - not least Tulipa sylvestris, the Woodland Tulip. Who knew? :D
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Ah yes, the good old Woodland Tulip - completely slipped my mind! ::) :lol:
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LOL!
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Ah yes, the good old Woodland Tulip - completely slipped my mind! ::) :lol:
AHA! But of course lol
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About six or seven years ago I planted two small clumps of wild garlic in the 'woodland area' at the bottom of the garden. It now covers about 2 square metres which is great as I love the stuff but you do need to be aware of its habits. I tried growing it in containers but it simply refused. It seems to need the rotting leaf matter and shade found in woodlands.
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Thanks, SC - that’s what it’ll find at the back of my plot - shade, leaves and nothing else, really! I love the stuff too, so can’t imagine having too much - and if it goes bonkers I can always dig some out and share - one of the bonuses, as we know, of allotments! :)
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It has such prolific seed, but is easy to pull out (and eat!) unwanted plants, especially in their second year
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So if I wanted to grow it from seed is now the time to sow? Or should I plant bulbs? I plan to attempt to grow it in a container, and will add a load of leaves to the container to try and make it a bit more "woodland-like".
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I tried seed last autumn and nothing germinated, so I’ve gone for bulbs this year. I reckon you’re better off with bulbs, as long as you buy from a decent source - quicker results and much better chance of success!
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I tried seed last autumn and nothing germinated, so I’ve gone for bulbs this year. I reckon you’re better off with bulbs, as long as you buy from a decent source - quicker results and much better chance of success!
I think they need to be in the ground all Winter and frozen for a while, then they come up everywhere!! I started with little bulbs but now know they are spreading by seed as they come up in the cracks in the stone path :lol: :lol:
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You obviously got them off to a good start! :) My seed was in all winter so got a good frosting, but still nothing came up... Maybe it was old. I reckon bulbs are a safer bet to begin with, anyway.
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You obviously got them off to a good start! :) My seed was in all winter so got a good frosting, but still nothing came up... Maybe it was old. I reckon bulbs are a safer bet to begin with, anyway.
Bulbs are definitely the way to start, and then once they are large enough to flower (mine took 2 years) then seed is self sown absolutely fresh
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Great, thanks I will give it a go.