Anyone can grow garlic???

[stressedoutmum2]

Thank you to you all, I don't feel so bad now this is why I like this place - I am learning all the time

[BarleySugar]

I've been doing the same as Stacey Steve. The first year I bought some garlic from the garden centre, then each year for the past 4, I have chosen the best cloves to plant on. It's looking really good this year, so I think it does get acclimatised.

[moggssue]

This was my second year at attempting garlic and I've had the same problem both times. Last year I put it down to the horrendous rainy weather (they were in a pot and got waterlogged). This year they're on the lottie, in a raised bed with BFB added before planting them in February. We did have frost after that to help them split and they grew away happily. Now though, they're all falling over, very thin and spindly having stopped growing a bit ago, and I just have marbles for garlic.

Is it worth me trying Stacey's idea and replanting some of these, or do I just start again and plant in October instead? I love garlic so am desparate to get them to grow for me!!

And stressedoutmum, at least you know you are not alone

[jennybb]

Hope it's ok to add a question. Mine is spring planted, when should it be ready for pulling?

Also if it does turn out to be any good and I save some for planting, can I plant in the Autumn or does it need to be Spring again?

Thanks

[slooky]

I must have been very lucky as planted the bulb we brought back (not on purpose) from a holiday in Annecy. I planted it in the Autumn left it alone and it has produced a reasonable crop.

Maybe it heard by allotment neighbour saying it will never grow as it was not bought from a supplier ..

[Flapjack]

I finally got round to pulling some up to inspect after Parrot's encouragement- it is nearly there! Some of them look a bit poorly and seem to be rotting around the base of the stalks. Hmmm...
Pics of the one I pulled up at Michelle's Garden: Allium impatience if you'd like to have a look!

[Winged one]

Stacey Steve, just in relation to storing the garlic, does your OH mince it by hand in some way, or just peel and whizz through the food processor? It does sound like a useful way to go (I am after losing a lot which I plaited and stored in the shed - maybe 1/3 of what I had).

[Stacey Steve]

Winged One, poor lass, she spends hours peeling it and then as she has a mincer on her Kenwood, she puts it all through that, using the medium sized plate.

For minced garlic it is best to use the cloves from garlic that has been dried for a few weeks as if you were plaiting it. If you use it before it has been through the drying stage, then it is a bit wet and maked more of a paste but is still a good addition for stir fries, soups etc.

Evidentially there was a program on the TV the other night where the chef was using "wet garlic" and as a consequence a few of the girls at work have asked if I grow that type.

I have explained that it is just where it is a bit fresher than what you buy in the supermarket and have agreed to hand some over for them to try.

[Winged one]

Ah - I guess that means I'd have to arrange a weekend in me ma's so - I have a Kenwood but no mincer on it but she has one on hers. I was thinking of just whizzing in the food processor - but it sounds like that's not the best idea.

I was terribly confused by the wet garlic last year and spent ages trying to take off the layers that would be papery if dried - Hugh fearliessly eatsitall (to use his appparent handle in here) was just using the whole lot this week so that's what I'll be doing before it dries this year.

[TinyT]

This is my first year trying garlic so I thought I'd experiment planting them in three different places, in October and January and I tried using a few grocery store cloves and two types from Suttons.
The shop ones in the shade, sprinted off really well, then some started to rot around 2 weeks ago so i dug them up - They were rubbish. All of the Suttons one's in the shade and sun seem to be okay (for now!). They're necks are pretty small though - I'm guessing I'm going to get a pretty small crop this year.