Garlic in peat pots?

[lspittles]

I'm in the process of making a kitchen garden but the beds won't be ready for a few weeks yet. Can I plant some garlic in peat pots now and put them in a bed later? Obviously I would use a large pot to accommodate the growing bulb. Is there anything else I can also plant in the same way as I don't want to miss the Autumn planting window. Pots and compost are at the ready! Thanks.
Lesley

[sewer rat]

Last year, I planted my garlic and my shallots in 3" pots and overwintered them in the unheated greenhouse - they grew away fine, no problems and the shallots were superb this year - garlic was okay, but am gonna try a different type this year, more suited to the North of Scotland climate

[Nicos]

Can't see any problem with that.
Our allotment is very peaty - just like potting compost and ours were fine outside in that type of soil last winter. Suggest you don't overwater them though as I would be wary of fungal spores rotting the bulbs. Might be worth adding a bit of sand to lighten it a bit??

[skegblade]

Sewer Rat, just a couple of questions;

When did you put your garlic and shallots into the pots?

I know from other posts that it's possible to use shop bought garlic; but what about shallots; can you use ordinary ones or do they have to be seeds or sets?
Phil

[sewer rat]

Was late with mygarlic - didn't put in pots til Mid December - ground was already frozen by then.
Bought shallots as setts in October and just stuck them in pots to plant out in Spring as the bed I wanted for them wasn't ready - already had a well developed root system to give them a head's start when I did plant them out.

[lspittles]

Thanks, guys. I'll start getting busy...

Lesley

[skegblade]

Thanks Sewer Rat, the garlic will be going into pots this weekend; followed by the shallots next month.

[Birdie Wife]

Hi Rat, what type of garlic are you going to try? I've always gone with Solent Wight but this year many of them rotted off, probably because I had to replant them in February but hey.

[number 1 suspect]

Hi all
Never tried garlic but going to do it this season. Is there any reason (probably loads) why i cant just go to Tesco's and use some them of the shelf as it were?

[sewer rat]

Hi BW
Gonna order my bulbs from "The Really Garlicky Company" in Moray - they grow acres of the stuff and have a porcelain necked strain that is particularly suitable for this far north. It looks a lovely big bulb and having tasted some of their wares, it is very very garlicky - hence the company name - type it into google to get web address.

[Snadger]

Can't see any problem with that.
Our allotment is very peaty - just like potting compost and ours were fine outside in that type of soil last winter. Suggest you don't overwater them though as I would be wary of fungal spores rotting the bulbs. Might be worth adding a bit of sand to lighten it a bit??

An allotment with soil like potting compost? Mmmm. I am green with envy!

Is it naturally peaty Nicos, or is it just with all the soil improvement you have done over the years?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Yipee! I've found my garlic from the chaps in the IOW - kept in the sealed box with all my other seeds - boy did I know that I'd found it when I took the lid off! looking forward to tomorrow - going to spend as much time as I can pottering around (literally!) dexterdog

[Snadger]

Hi all
Never tried garlic but going to do it this season. Is there any reason (probably loads) why i cant just go to Tesco's and use some them of the shelf as it were?

Apparently its a no-no because it won't be bread for growing in your area, plus loads of other complicated reasons, degeneration etc I suppose its the same as seed potatoes and shop bought pots?..........Having said that I have just bought a packet of garlic from my local Garden Centre for £1.99 and will buy some from Tesco's @ 49p? . I will do my own trial and see how it works out .

[bootie]

I planted garlic purchased from Sainsbury's and Thompson & Morgan. The T/M bulbs gave a much better crop. The sainsbury bulb gave a very disapointing result!

[number 1 suspect]

Just me being a skinflint :-)
Will do the same as you snadger and run some trials side by side.