Garlic Planting

[Chiltern Matt]

Hello fellow fruit n veg growers.

My first post, and I am a novice, and so thought I would pick your brains. Am I too late to plant out garlic? Any advice gratefully received.

[binley100]

Welcome to the vine Matt........you can still plant it out (as long as the grounds not frozen) but it may not bulb up as much as if it had been planted last October.

[rustylady]

Get them in as soon as you can. BTW Welcome to the Vine.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Chiltern Matt and welcome! I planted a load of garlic cloves in modules in the unheated greenhouse on 27th December. They're all sprouting now and when I have time and a clear space in the garden I'll plant them out. The way I look at it, its rarely too late or too early to plant Garlic - you usually get something in return - it may not be show-winning size though!

[hollychap]

hi and welcome , i bought some more on saturday that i will get in hopefully this coming weekend i already have quite a few growing that are about 4" tall but i want to see the differance as its my first year with plenty of room ( got allotment april 2011)

[Chiltern Matt]

Thanks very for your reassurance everyone, this is certainly more friendly and open minded than the Oxford United forum which I usually post on! ( not on gardening matters it has to be said!) The only problem is I haven't actually bought any yet either... any variety suggestions? Being in the Chilterns, my soil is prone to retaining water as it is quite clayish, and alkaline due to the chalk underneath.

[binley100]

well waddya expect ...........they be footballers

[veggiechicken]

I bought organic garlic cloves in Sainsbury's -cooked with some and planted the rest. Nothing ventured...
An expert garlic grower will be along in a minute.....

[Jeanied]

I plant whatever has started to shoot in the vegetable rack!

[Two_Sheds]

Last year we planted supermarket garlic into modules in the winter, kept them in a cold gh until March, then put them in the raised beds at school.

Best crop I've ever had

[Two_Sheds]

This year, I've planted some in the raised beds (Nov), some in the cold gh and some are still in the fridge, sprouting in there. I'll plant those outside in March I think

[hailtryfan]

Being in the Chilterns, my soil is prone to retaining water as it is quite clayish, and alkaline due to the chalk underneath.

Garlic likes well-drained soil with neutral to slightly acidic pH, so not ideal for your soil. You can get around that though by I doing similar to Two Sheds. Start them off in modules or pots in compost in a unheated greenhouse if poss. Then plant out when the roots are well formed in spring ideally into a raised bed or failing that in a ridge of soil to improve drainage in your heavy soil.

[susiewoosie]

I've just bought some spring planting garlic, when would that be ready for picking please?

Sue

[Potstubsdustbins]

Sprint if planted before the end of Jan will be ready from late June others will take longer. What varieties do you have.

Colin

[susiewoosie]

Thanks, I'm not sure. I bought it for 99p when I bought my onions. It just said Thompson and Morgan choice. It will be delivered between now and April.

Sue