[debih]

We have never tried growing garlic before but thought we would give it a go this year.

When should I be thinking about planting it out?  Any tips on a variety to get and how to plant and look after it please?

[DD.]

I grow the hardneck variety "Music" from the Really Garlicky Company and will plant it in October.

I just goes in about 3" down, 9" apart and gets fed with chicken manure pellets in the spring.

[operabunny]

Exactly as DD said + some Solent White softneck garlic.

[debih]

Thanks - off to take a look at their site now.

[JohnB47]

You split it. You'll get around 9 - 13 individual cloves from each bulb.

Curious - your post asking whether to split or not has disappeared! So my answer seems odd.

[Babstreefern]

I grow different types each year, and plant them in October (although this last one, I was very late and planted between Christmas and New Year, but they were still ok when harvesting came about.

[DD.]

Think you were late!

Mine didn't make it until March this year and they're still corkers.

[Benandbill]

I'm nuts about the stuff, I'd have it on rice crispies - only I don't eat rice crispies!  I planted a load of shop bought last year (which I now know is v/naughty so I won't be doing it again) but unfortunately I don't remember when I did it.  However, it grew beautifully.  This year I've ordered 3 different varieties but the website doesn't give much indication of planting times.  All it says is;

Picardy Wight - Harvested after mid July it will keep to May the following year.

Provence Wight - Spring planting is possible although will produce smaller bulbs.

Solent Wight - November to January planting is best but will crop from end March.  Ready for harvesting from Mid July.   

I'm not sure how useful that is for you but I wouldn't mind knowing a bit more - hopefully the packaging will reveal all!

[mumofstig]

Been having a look at garlic & onion sets on line and some of the major seed companies are adding £3.95 p&p to garlic orders

Suttons are only adding 95p 

[Comfortably Numb]

Been having a look at garlic & onion sets on line and some of the major seed companies are adding £3.95 p&p to garlic orders

Suttons are only adding 95p 

Dobies Seeds are only 0.95p P&P as well.
They are also offering any 4 packs of Garlic, Onion sets, or Shallots for the price of 3 

[Lardman]

£2.50 from TRG company.  Free if you make up the order to £35 with some of their most excellent products .... like the oat cakes ....mmmmmm yummy.

[AlaninCarlisle]

I successfully grow garlic every year. I start it off in an unheated greenhouse in January in fibre pots and then plant out with the onion sets in late March. Never failed to have less than a bumper crop

[NN2Blue]

Last season I let the garlic develop the stem bulbils which I grew on over winter. These have been harvested and will be planted again to overwinter. Some have grown quite nicely. I'll see how they go. Not sure what the original variety was - Waitrose finest I think! 

[Benandbill]

NN2Blue are the stem bulbils those things that bulge out in the stalk?  What do you do with these then?  Do you snap them off and plant them or something?

[DD.]

He's not on line at the mo, but if you have a look at this, it answers just about every question under the sun about bulbils. (OK it's American, but very comprehensive).

http://www.garlicfarm.ca/garlic-bulbils.htm