Garlic In Pots

[Frana]

I have heard somewhere that garlic can be started in pots to give it a good start, but also that this is not the best option as it likes the cold.

Can anyone shed any light on this as I have some 'Picardy Wight' to put in and it looks a good garlic so would not want to ruin it!

Also, can anyone give me an idiot's guide on what is softneck and what is hardneck?

Cheers all!

[zazen999]

I've moved your thread so that you can get an answer - as it was posted on the Growing Techniques board.

[SarahStrawberry]

Hi

I bought 10 Purple Wight garlic cloves a few weeks back and I planted 8 in the ground and 2 in pots all in our unheated polytunnel because I was unsure about what would be best. However, they have all started to grow at about the same time so I'm not sure how much difference being in pots is making. This is the first time i've grown garlic so I'm keen to see how they get on but up to now I am pleased.

[rustylady]

I start mine in cell trays just to get them going, and then plant them out. The cells are outside the greenhouse on the bench - they don't need any warmth.

[T8Ter]

Garlic is fine straight outside into the open ground. If it doesn't get a sharp cold spell it won't split and you'll end up with a single, usually smaller, bulb (much like an onion) rather than a bulb made up of individual cloves.

[buzzingtalk]

I've heard they are fine in pots, and I have 6 cloves in pots outside noww. No growth yet but they've only been in a week so I'll let you know how they get on

[Croila]

I planted about 45 cloves in total, about half that in pots and half in the ground. (Just because my back garden is fairly small.) I'm hoping they all do okay irrespective of where they're planted ...

[gojiberry]

I always start mine in pots as I can control the watering while they get going. My plot tends to hold a lot of water and garlic tends to take a long time to get going in a lot of water. As soon as I get a couple of inches of green they will be out on the plot.

Ian