[bigben]

I grew music last year and have just got my seed garlic for next year to grow it again. It did produce good sized cloves but dont assume DDs is the norm - I think he must have an amplifier! Even though I was pleased with mine - none of them got that big. 

[Sue33]

Posted by: mumofstig  Posted on: Today at 12:11 PM 
Insert Quote 
Quote from: Sue33 on Today at 10:28 AM

we tried elephant garlic this year without success, i think because the ground was quite wet through the summer it didn't clove at all,

Elephant garlic doesn't divide into cloves, it is closely related to leeks and like them it just grows a bulb at the bottom

Aaaah that explains it - d'oh didn't realise that     thanks MoS

[savbo]

we tried elephant garlic this year without success, i think because the ground was quite wet through the summer it didn't clove at all,

Elephant garlic doesn't divide into cloves, it is closely related to leeks and like them it just grows a bulb at the bottom

that's what i thought too, but if you g**gle it suppliers are clearly showing something with cloves...

[arugula]

That's right. The first search result returned, for the website of a supplier whose name might rhyme with onions......

[shokkyy]

Different people do seem to get different results with the same garlic variety, presumably because of local conditions or whatever. Lots of people do well with Solent Wight, but I've never been able to get decent sized bulbs or cloves from them. Last year I planted Marco and Iberian Wight, and they did much better for me. Iberian Wight gave me some huge bulbs and all the cloves seem to be big. Marco gave me smaller bulbs but with very big cloves, which is great for cooking with.

I think the best bet is to try a row each of 2 or 3 varieties, depending how much space you've got, to find out what works well for you. Once you've found the ones you like, you can resow them the next year and you'll never have to buy garlic again

[JaK]

we tried elephant garlic this year without success, i think because the ground was quite wet through the summer it didn't clove at all,

Elephant garlic doesn't divide into cloves, it is closely related to leeks and like them it just grows a bulb at the bottom

that's what i thought too, but if you g**gle it suppliers are clearly showing something with cloves...

My elephant garlic does have cloves though 

[crh75]

Elephant garlic produces about six very large cloves.

[mumofstig]

Elephant garlic has cloves...well I never. That's not how I understood it at all  

It seems from this
http://www.nvsuk.org.uk/growing_show_vegetables_1/garlic_elephant_2.php
that you can get 2 sorts of cloves/bulbils from elephant garlic, one type will only develop a single bulb in the first year.
It's all very confusing if you ask me  

[sunshineband]

I thought elephant garlic (which is a leek relative, rather than a garlic relative  :blink: ) split inot cloves if it was planted now and gets a good cold spell, and stayed as one fat lump if planted in the spring after the cold snaps are over




PS I am checking this idea out myself this coming year as I have enough cloves to do it this time around 

[realfood]

I have been growing elephant garlic for many years and they clove into 5 or 6 very large cloves, if planted in the Autumn, which is the best time. Very small cloves, or those planted in the Spring, tend to form a single round, sometimes very large.
Planting bulbils is a different matter again, and they will usually form a very small round in their first year.
Do a google search on growing elephant garlic and it is all explained.

[Quetzal]

All good info, thanks for it all. Are the strains of garlic being recommended hardneck or softneck?

[DigIt]

One thing to note when choosing a variety is flavour and whether you like strong or mild flavoured garlic.
It would seem a shame to grow a variety successfully only to find it is too strong or mild for your taste.

For me, I have grown Marco and it has a full flavour that I like.

Daryl

[crh75]

This year I am planting Avignon and Picardy from the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm.   Also Elephant garlic saved from this year.

[strangerachael]

That's right. The first search result returned, for the website of a supplier whose name might rhyme with onions......

I give up - all I can think of is 'Bunions'. I have searched all the seed suppliers I can think of and can't find this 'music' variety. Please can I have a name or a link?
Thanks

[arugula]

I have searched all the seed suppliers I can think of and can't find this 'music' variety. Please can I have a name or a link?
Thanks

Have a look around this website:

http://www.reallygarlicky.co.uk/