Planting Garlic

[nick the grief]

Sounds about right to me Pip,

I know that the Old gardeners use to mix bonfire ash in with their potting copmost, I assume for this reason as it would help root developement.

ntg

[Eileandubher]

I did ok up in the Highlands with last years garlic- planted it outside in March and harvested it in September- bulbs were small but v.tasty.
This time I have planted various types including some of my own from last year. Planted them outside in mid November- rain, rain and rain, now frost and sun. No covering on them and area a bit of a frost pocket. Some are planted in pots and others in an old belfast sink. They all seem to be doing ok so far, however now that I've read this thread will be out first thing tomorrow adding some wood ash from the stove. Thanks for the advice!
Eileandubher

[andrewo]

Interim Report

17th February 2006 14:06. Have taken fleece off garlic, as wind nearly ran away with it in the night. Must watch wind, he has been eyeing up alot of anything not nailed down. Garlic has all (bar one pesky little clove, who will be court martialled in the summer in front of a panel of his vegetable peers, waiting on the grand judge, pumpkin) come up but have noticed nibble marks. Yes, that's an affirmative, nibble marks on the top of the green stalks, will monitor now fleece has been removed, cold may drive off insurgents, if not will move to plan B: Kill Commies. Have deployed tactical warheads around the garden, we cannot, we will not tolerate invasion of our vegetables. Over and out.

[Mucky Lizz!!]

Reply and HELP

I am leaving my elephant garlic in for it's 2nd season hoping they will develp further.You'd leave daffs and tulips etc, so why not garlic- so long as you split the cloves?!. Any one else??..

I harvested my garlic (just supermarket bought) last summer after planting out the autumn before, and I replanted the cloves striaght back again, I now have some lovely greenery, I haven't checked the bulb yet but it looks good so far.

A question as we are on the subject of garlic............. I had a bulb which flowered last year, the 'flower' was made up of hundreds of small garlic shape, garlic smelling and tasting 'things' I planted them not knowing what would happen, most of them have started growing roots and shoots, does anyone know if I will get garlic bulbs from this as they do (I think) call it seed garlic.

[Geordie]

Mucky Lizz,

Garlic does not reproduce sexually so the bubils that form in the flower head are generally sterile....they will grow but should not produce any cloves.


Hardneck garlics usually form a flower stalk - or scape - at the top of the garlic plant. At the top of the scape grows what is commonly called a garlic flower.
In fact this is a misnomer, any flower which starts to develop usually aborts (cultivated garlic is sterile - plants are technically clones). Instead what is normally seen at the top of the garlic scape is a collection of bubils - miniature cloves. The scape and bubils can be considered akin to "bolting" in other plants. If the scape and bubils are left in place, the garlic plant will expend energy on them that could be better used to grow the bulb. The usual advice is therefor to remove the bubils - if you don't then your garlic crop is likely to be of small size.

Cloves from the supermarket do not grow well because of the way they are stored and because the cultivars stocked are frequently ones that are not well suited to the UK. For examples 'Moraluz', grown widely in Spain, is popular in supermarkets but not very successful for growing in a British climate where moisture penetrates the bulbs.

[Nicos]

Geordie...you are a wonder!!! maybe I should put you intouch with our daughter who wants to specialise in environmental enrichment for wild animals...PM me if you are interested!!!!

My latest post re my elephant garlic is that it has doubled in size over the past month..3 ins diameter... now been in the soil for 10 months...bunnies enjoying the top growth!