Garlic

[Pompeylottie]

We have just had our delivery of onions, shallots and garlic to sell in our allotment shop, (for growing - not for eating!)two large bulbs of garlic sell for one pound.
In our local One stop today there were two large bulbs (to eat) for 59p - are garlic bulbs for growing treated, or different, from the bulbs you buy for eating?

Thank you for any advice on this.

[geoffpompey]

hi not sure about the garlic but where is your shop? I have a plot in tipner but havnt found anywhere local i could pop out out and get a few bits without going out of town.

[Jenegade]

I'm sure that on other threads somewhere here others have siad that they just used supermarket garlic bulbs. Anyway, I have been growing supermarket ones, they are almost all sprouting happily (inside and out).

Not sure what the difference is though!

[Pompeylottie]

we're in Longmeadow Geoff, entrance opposite Homebase in Burrfields Road, down the entrance at the side of Staples, Longmeadow on the right and Moneyfields on the left. The shop is open winter 10-12am on Saturdays and Sundays, you have to join our allotment association at #2.00 a year. Gates are usually shut but not locked during shop opening hours. Our prices are very good I think -non-profit making etc. We have seed potatoes (going fast), onions etc and 2009 seeds plus all the usual compost, weedkillers etc.

[BarleySugar]

I think that garlic bought for growing is supposed to be more acclimatised to UK growing conditions, whereas, depending on the origins of the eating garlic, it might struggle more in our climate, and thus give poorer yields. However, saving your own bulbs and planting the largest cloves year to year means that whatever you start with, you will end up with garlic suited to your own growing conditions.

[geoffpompey]

Thats great! I will try and pop down and have nosey around if thats ok. I have already got my potatoes from keydales because they have 20% off everything this month but i still havnt got my onions yet. will try and pop in this weekend, work permiting.
thanks...

[HotStuff]

Exactly what BS said, a lot of the Garlic we buy to eat in this country comes from Spain or other warmer climates. If the stuff in your lottie shop was grown in the UK (probably Isle of Wight) then it stands a better chance. OneStop might work, but stuff grown in this country should be more reliable.

[Alice]

That sounds expensive for garlic Pompeylottie.
You can grow from supermarket stuff but as others have said it might not be as winter hardy as stuff grown here.
I buy from the garlic company in Nairn and get Scottish winter hardy garlic.
I think the bulbs were about 38p each.

[Pompeylottie]

We have 3 smaller bulbs for $1 or 2 larger bulbs for $1, it's the first year we've been in the shop and are still finding our feet but they do seem to be good bulbs, from the Isle of Wight. Thanks for the info everyone.

[Beetroot Bob]

That sounds expensive for garlic Pompeylottie.
You can grow from supermarket stuff but as others have said it might not be as winter hardy as stuff grown here.
I buy from the garlic company in Nairn and get Scottish winter hardy garlic.
I think the bulbs were about 38p each.

The really Garlicky company sell seed garlic at 80p per blub plus postage so 2 for £2 without postage is quite good. I paid £3.75 for 2 bulbs from Dobies! sounds expensive but every single clove from those bulbs are up and goign strong where the supermarket blub I planted hasn't moved at all.