Garlic Recommendation please

[lbt]

Hi All

I love to grow garlic but I am not sure where to buy it from this year.

I bought some from Thompson and Morgan last year but the cloves didn't grow very big despite planting in November last year. Garlic isn't hard to grow so I wondered if they weren't the best bulbs.

I was thinking about buying some from the Garlic Farm in the Isle of Wight but it's quite expensive.

Any suggestions or comments appreciated.

P.S I have found my experiences to be a bit hit and miss with T&M. Have I just been unlucky or have others found the same thing? I have some fruit canes and asparagus crowns coming from Suttons this year because I think it might be time for a change of supplier.

[SarzWix]

My garlic has been very hit & miss this year - I grew 3 different varieties and in each batch some were reasonable sized and some were tiny and didn't even split into cloves I think that the lack of water early in the season affected mine quite badly though.

Have you tried Marshall's Seeds? They've got loads of different types this year, might be worth a try?

[PAULW]

As with Sarah my garlic was a bit hit and miss as with most of my crops this year, save the best eat the rest and the bulbs that never split replant they will next year.

[lbt]

I am not sure if even the best are good enough to plant and get a decent crop

[SarzWix]

I don't know how you can judge that on one year's performance?! My garlic last year was brilliant, all really good sizes and all stored really well too.

If we were to give up growing things after one poor year, we might as well give up altogether!

[lbt]

I have been growing for a few years and I am not suggesting giving up, I am asking for recommendations for suppliers from personal experience.

[SarzWix]

I reckon whoever you buy from, it's really coming from The Garlic Farm - everything with Wight in the name is from them, as well as loads of others. Perhaps you could try buying direct from them and cut out the middle-man?

[lbt]

Thanks Sarah.

Good point - I hadn't considered that they might be the main suppliers anyway. I think I am going to plant the best of this years crop, and buy some new bulbs too. Hopefully next year, I won't need to buy any new stock.

[Keith2202]

I got the Garlic Farm growers pack last year. They are expensive but the bulbs they sent were all massive and seemed to be good quality.
The best performers for me were probably Early Purple, Iberian, Chesnok and Solent (Solent planted in spring).
I did get some decent bulbs out of all of them though and have saved for next year.

[lbt]

Thanks Keith - I think I'll go for the growers pack as well but I am very tempted by their garlic book too!

[T8Ter]

Hi Ibt,
I got my bulbs from T&M last year and the results were pretty good, see attached, not all years are the same regardless where the seed comes from, the only thing I would say is that when you get a variety that you get great results from, resist eating the the best bulbs and save them for re-planting. That way you will increase your stock of the variety that likes the particular conditions of your garden/allotment.

[HotStuff]

Don't know how long it's valid for, but if you enter the promotional code "KIT" when you buy the Garlic Lovers pack from the Garlic Farm you should hopefully get £5 off.

[lbt]

Thanks HS - the code just worked for me