[Folger]

Hi, I'm hoping to grow garlic, seeing as we're coming to the end of the season its going to be one of our first things planted on the allotment.

Do I need to buy a special garlic bulb to plant or do I just get a normal garlic from the supermarket?  Please dont laugh, I'm new lol

[Fisherman]

Buy garlic from a garden centre or mail order from a specialist supplier. Hard neck varieties are grown over winter and are generally easy to grow.

[AndyRVTR]

Hi Folger.. my first time for Garlic too... I spoke to dobies on wednesday and they reckon another couple of weeks before they get stock in...  

Buy garlic from a garden centre or mail order from a specialist supplier. Hard neck varieties are grown over winter and are generally easy to grow.

What are the differences between soft and hardneck for those that dont know?

[Pompey Spud]

Buy garlic from a garden centre or mail order from a specialist supplier. Hard neck varieties are grown over winter and are generally easy to grow.

Not quite correct.

Softneck garlic can be grown over the winter as well like i did.

Softneck stores for longer.

See the link.

Don't plant shop brought garlic as this has been grown miles away and won't be suitable for the UK climate. You'll get iffy results.

http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/garlicgrow.aspx


edited to clarify quote

[Folger]

Thanks for your help with that, I was going to take advantage of the Thompson & Morgan offer that someone posted about, for free P&P over the weekend.

I would like to store the garlic for a while, I mean theres only so many things I oculd do with it, can anyone recommend a particular type, I was looking at the Chesnok Red as says its good for garlic bread which we love!

[Pompey Spud]

Fill your boots.

I grew Albagensian, Solent Wight and Elephant garlic with good results on all. That was without creating a decent seed bed.

Top tips from an old back issue of KG:

1. Water well when bulbing up
2. Autumn sown will give bigger bulbs
3. Feed them potash when bulbing up as well every few weeks.

I was looking at that type as well.

[SG6]

The named varieties seem to give bigger bulbs then those from a supermarket but I find they come out a fair bit smaller then the bulbs they came from. Have some nice Russian Porcelain garlics that I grew last year, and a nice size but the original was bigger.

Have sown supermarket ones a few years ago and again they were smaller then what went in, but not by a lot. What came out was a lot stronger. Thing is at 30p for a garlic it is tempting to split one and give it a go. Not a lot to lose.

Not sure what I will try this year, as it often seem to depend on what variety I stumble across.

[zazen999]

My bestest garlic ever was:

bought in a greengrocers in nottingham having been grown locally
split into cloves and planted in September
Harvested in June - sometimes you can get away with a May harvest.

If you plant lots - you can harvest them in March/April and onwards as Green Garlic; very very lovely.

[jimbeekeeper]

Just planted mine today. 3 shop bought bulbs (cant remeber the name), split down to 30 cloves.

Planted this time last year and harvested a good crop a few weeks back.

Also planted today, 100 onions, 25 challots and 40 broadbeen seeds.

[Pip Judgeford]

Jimbeekeeper - good to see another bee keeper on this forum.  Just started 10 months ago.

I'm astonished that you are planting shallots now?  I've just put my seedlings in and NZ is 6 months out in season.  Mind you I am new to shallots - would you say a little more about what you do please?

thanks, Pip

[DD.]

In common with over-winter (Japanese) onions, you can get over-winter shallots, although I think it a little on the early side to be planting.

Mine go in more towards October, I don't like them to put on too much growth before winter sets in, just enough to be able to sprint when the spring comes. If there's too much, they're more vunerable to the winter elements.

[jimbeekeeper]

I always over winter my onions and shallots, yes maybe a couple of weeks early, but They can not read a calendar so it is OK. They say plant in September, well that is technically only next week!

Pip I have been keeping bees now for 5 years, still learning, but pretty much got the grasp of it now!

[DD.]

Don't like mine to be too big, thay have to stand up to the winter winds and snow. They are more likely to fall foul of them if the foilage is too big.

[JohnB47]

In common with over-winter (Japanese) onions, you can get over-winter shallots, although I think it a little on the early side to be planting.

Interesting - I asked a specific question about 'over wintering' shallots and the consensus seemed to be that there was no real point in over wintering them - unlike some onions, they grow pertty well when planted in spring.

Also, just received a 'Gardening Direct' catalogue - they want £5.99 for a pack of 10 Jermor. Crikey.

[jansoldman]

this was my best year for garlic , probably due to cold weather , garlic likes a longish period below 5 degrees in jan or feb ,and we had that in the royal county this year alright so i have loads of the stuff !!!
i plant in october , solant white ,sic, from wallis seeds my favourite seeds merchant  very good value.
My tip is keep the garlic from being in a waterlogged state and feed as already suggested with a high potash feed or comfrey in the spring