Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: RJR_38 on January 06, 2013, 17:37

Title: Wild garlic
Post by: RJR_38 on January 06, 2013, 17:37
I am just setting up my new allotment and I wondered if anyone knew how I could get hold of some wild garlic? It grew like mad in a woodland near where I used to live and I used it all the time. Now I have moved several counties away and I haven't seen a wild source anywhere so I thought I would grow some on the lottie in the shade of the shed. However, I don't know if it comes as seeds or plants and haven't yet managed I track a source down.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on January 06, 2013, 18:09
What a coincidence. I was just looking at this as I want to get some started at my new house. The Garlic Farm sells it on line but its not cheap (£10 for 12 bulbs) but it does spread pretty well so hoping once it's taken hold I will have lots.
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on January 06, 2013, 18:11
I bought some, a couple of years ago, from eBay. :)
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Lottiman on January 06, 2013, 18:23
Quick question do you wild garlic growers have it in pots, as I was led to believe it spreads or is it not that bad, someone offered me some and much as I really wanted to grow it, I did not want it everywhere.
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: RJR_38 on January 06, 2013, 18:24
Ah, bulbs would make more sense! I will look at both sources, thanks. As you say it spreads like mad so 12 bulbs should be plenty
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: sunshineband on January 06, 2013, 19:22
I bought some, a couple of years ago, from eBay. :)

So did I  :D

It dies down every year and so might be available as small bulbils now.
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Lawrence on January 06, 2013, 22:28
Saw these on ebay today.
150 bulbs for £12 and the money goes to donate trees for planting across the UK.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125-Wild-Garlic-tubers-bulbs-Allium-ursinum-25-extra-free-Ebay-cheapest-/110997936079?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item19d7fe17cf

Sounds like a really good deal and gives you loads to share!
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: RJR_38 on January 07, 2013, 06:14
I looked at these last night - looks like a fab deal doesn't it! I shall be ordering this week!i never thought of looking on eBay it has to be said.
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on January 07, 2013, 07:11
Quick question do you wild garlic growers have it in pots,

No I don't. I haven't found it invasive yet. :)
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Lottiman on January 07, 2013, 18:30
Quick question do you wild garlic growers have it in pots,

No I don't. I haven't found it invasive yet. :)


Thankyou  arugula,  I shall give it a go I think  :)
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on February 23, 2013, 11:53
Out of interest. Is anyone who grows wild garlic harvesting yet? One of the chefs on James Martin's programme this morning used some in the dish he cooked saying its in season now and he's been picking leaves for a month already!  :ohmy: Mine isn't even showing above ground. No it wasn't the rerun show.  :nowink:
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Kate and her Ducks on February 23, 2013, 18:10
Well I only planted mine about 6 weeks ago and it was a bit sprouty then and definitely has a load of leaves now. I've not harvested any yet as think it need a bit of a chance t get going but the smell when I bruise a leave is lovely.
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: sunshineband on February 23, 2013, 18:12
Out of interest. Is anyone who grows wild garlic harvesting yet? One of the chefs on James Martin's programme this morning used some in the dish he cooked saying its in season now and he's been picking leaves for a month already!  :ohmy: Mine isn't even showing above ground. No it wasn't the rerun show.  :nowink:

Mine is not up yet either --- it usually comes up at the same time or just after the bluebells in the woods
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on February 23, 2013, 18:19
Our bluebells are up in the green, along with flowering mini daffs, snowdrops, crocuses, daffs, tulips, hyacinths... but no sign of the wild garlic. I seem to recall it being more of an April crop...  :unsure:

Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Ice on February 23, 2013, 18:20
April crop round here too. :)
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: sunshineband on February 23, 2013, 18:23
Our bluebells are up in the green, along with flowering mini daffs, snowdrops, crocuses, daffs, tulips, hyacinths... but no sign of the wild garlic. I seem to recall it being more of an April crop...  :unsure:



Our bluebells are only an inch tall yet -- mind you some were only planted last year of course  ;)

And we always had ramson flowers with bluebells, late April early May
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on February 23, 2013, 18:27
Our bluebells are only an inch tall yet -- mind you some were only planted last year of course  ;)

Of course. ;)

So here, where Ice is and where you are sunny, April is the wild garlic time. I wonder where in England that chef is.  :wacko:
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: sunshineband on February 23, 2013, 18:31
Somewhere they grow wild garlic in a polytunnel perhaps...  :unsure: :unsure:
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on February 23, 2013, 18:39
Yes, I'm thinking that too. He didn't say that though, and he specifically mentioned it being in season which I woud construe as cheating if he's tunnel growing it.  :nowink:
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: sunshineband on February 23, 2013, 18:44
I feel sorry for all those folk scouring the woods for it  ???
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Sparkyrog on February 23, 2013, 18:47
Never tried it do you use the tops or the bulb ?
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: sunshineband on February 23, 2013, 18:50
Never tried it do you use the tops or the bulb ?

The green leaves, which are large and flat, not thin like  usual garlic Bulbs are realtively small
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Sparkyrog on February 23, 2013, 18:54
Sounds similar to garlic chives then .
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: dmg on February 23, 2013, 19:19
We have wild garlic showing in our plots  along the boundry it has about 4" growth
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: ThatsNice on February 23, 2013, 19:24
Does it leave an aftertaste and smell like normal garlic does?
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Jo Loves Veg on February 23, 2013, 23:08
you can buy wild garlic (ransoms) seed very cheaply on Ebay - 99p!  I just treated myself to some.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Wild-Flower-Allium-ursinum-Ramsons-Wild-Garlic-100-Seed-Edible-/360561624003?pt=UK_HomeGarden_Garden_PlantsSeedsBulbs_JN&hash=item53f325c3c3

there are also different looking plants from bulbs - that look like white bluebells. i don't know what sort of garlic this is exactly?

The ransoms seeds I just bought look just like the wild garlic in my local wood (which is a SSSI, so I wouldn't nab anything). I'm going to put them under the apple tree on my allotment
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: New shoot on February 24, 2013, 07:23
Sounds similar to garlic chives then .

Similar, but wild garlic has a more pronounced garlic flavour and is not as sweetly chivey as garlic chives.  I like garlic chives chopped into salad dressing or potato salads and wild garlic is a bit strong for that to my taste  :)

The garlic chives I have are blue flowered, instead of the usual white and very pretty  :)
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on February 24, 2013, 07:45
We have wild garlic showing in our plots  along the boundry it has about 4" growth

Really? And you're in Glasgow, that's interesting...
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Muls on February 24, 2013, 18:51
Its at about 4 " here too, but I am sheltered !
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: arugula on February 24, 2013, 18:55
Its at about 4 " here too, but I am sheltered !

And you are almost as far south in the UK as we get. ;) I googled the chef in question who said he'd been cropping for a month already and he is based in Torquay too. :)
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: sunshineband on February 24, 2013, 18:57
Its at about 4 " here too, but I am sheltered !

And you are almost as far south in the UK as we get. ;) I googled the chef in question who said he'd been cropping for a month already and he is based in Torquay too. :)

Not known as The English Riviera for nothing then

notwithstanding today's temps of course  ;)
Title: Re: Wild garlic
Post by: Muls on February 24, 2013, 19:43
 :D slightly spoilt here ! No frosts but it does feel cold at the moment.