[Brian_of_Bozeat]

This year I planted some supermarket garlic cloves that had gone "over" and started to shoot, not brilliant results but encouraging non the less.

Having read somewhere that you should plant garlic varieties suitable for growing in Britain and to order in June I have been looking at the prices on Thompson & Morgan etc. and I am in shock!

To have enough to grow a years supply (approx 50 bulbs plus extra for planting out next year) I would need about 6 bulbs to split. Thats about £15 plus postage! and really doesn’t seem worth the bother.

I suppose future years will be at almost no cost (am i right, can you keep some back and build your stock liks daffodills?) But still, there must be a cheaper way to get started?

How do the rest of you do it economically?

[dereklane]

I certainly don't pay £15+!

I've done one bed of shop bought alongside the gardening centre ones this year, and they've both done alright, but the gardening centre ones were stronger through winter. I think I bought one packet of three bulbs for about £2 from the gardening centre. The shop bought ones are cheaper, of course.

[vegmandan]

You can't beat Wilkos garlic.

£1.50 for 3 bulbs and always gives brilliant results.

So you'll get 30-40 bulbs for  £1.50...bargain !  

Here's the proof of last years 2 packets worth bought and planted in March.

[kezlou]

I have just been to home bargains a cheap shop in Middlesbrough and bought 10 cloves of garlic for 79p. I went in Wilkos but they did not have any.

[vegmandan]

I have just been to home bargains a cheap shop in Middlesbrough and bought 10 cloves of garlic for 79p. I went in Wilkos but they did not have any.

The ones from Wilkos are the Early Spring planting ones and they only stock them from about Feb onwards which is plenty early enough to be planting Garlic,well up here in freezing Yorkshire anyhow

[kezlou]

Hey vegmandan same here Middlesbrough is even colder than the Dales! lol
global warming my rear more like global freezing and horrible wet summers grrrrr

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Thanks everyone, especially vegmandan for your brilliant pics!

looks like i'll wait for Wilco's next year then.

what a great forum!

[deedee71]

can you save your garlic that you grew, (from wilko or garden centre), and grow from that year after year?

also, can you grow garlic after summer solstice?

[vegmandan]

Absolutely,the stuff I'm growing this year is all left over from last years crop.

I harvest mine late july and you can plant it in autumn or early spring,depending on the variery.

[Tigerhair]

Hi - dunno about garlic, but I am originally from Yardley Hastings and my folks still reside there - used to horse ride at Bozeat every week!  

   Hi  

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Hi Tigerhair!  - My plot is in grendon.

[Tigerhair]

Just up the road then!     Small world!

[Alex 98]

This is 'the best violet garlic in the world'  - typical french modesty eh?

Grown in a small town near the Pyrennes, dodo spelling sorry

had some roasted with chicken

Fantastic

Going to dry some and plant in the autumn

£1.60 per head from La Fromagerie

Alex 98