In Praise Of Garlic

[VirginVegGrower]

I am already looking towards the next garlic growing season and I am interested in which varieties you have grown and why you rate them. This year I grew
- Early Purple Wight
- Chesnok Red
- Albigensian Wight
- Lautrec Wight

I have decent sized bulbs from the Early Purple Wight and the Lautrec Wight, but not from the Chesnok Red or Albigensian Wight. This year has been a bit of a rotter when it comes to growing and I did end up with rust on them all.
This next year will see me sow some in the polytunnel and some on the allotment. What would you recommend and why? I don't mind fiery garlic. I am quite a garlic fiend.

[binley100]

We had some from wilkinsons .........rubbish
and some off the market .........much better but as to what either of them were .......sorry haven't a clue

[bearded bloke]

We had some from wilkinsons .........rubbish

Yep (for this year) & Yep (for last year),giving them a miss next year.

[zazen999]

Wilkinsons - I'm not recommending them at all any more.

I'm still growing from the babies of my original Wollaton Shops Garlic bought 3 ish years ago for my Garlic Moon Trial; so much better return than any I've had from the [expensive] Garlic Peeps.

[binley100]

The year before last we used Wilkinsons and they were really good .....but two bad years says no more

[horticultural_hobbit]

Purple wight
Joliomont
Sprint
Solent wight

First year of growing, got rust all over the shop. Have all stood sentry like, look very robust.
All looks purple and white to me, I didn't label what I put where. I have nice big fat purple garlic. The white stuff, is smaller. So far, only two bulbs have been rotten and horrible. There is bout a dozen bulbs drying out at the moment; have yet to dig up the rest. Will do I gradually between now and august.

Will definitely grow garlic again. I'm rather proud of what I've harvested. Admittedly, we are yet to taste any of it.

[bearded bloke]

What would you recommend and why?

I would recommend a fleece or enviro-mesh tunnel,,,,,,,,,why ????????? .......... chuffing alium leaf miner

[binley100]

I'm sure it'll taste just like ...........garlic

[binley100]

I would recommend a fleece or enviro-mesh tunnel,,,,,,,,,why ????????? .......... chuffing alium leaf miner

he visits you as well then BB......

[horticultural_hobbit]

Certainly smells like it!

[bearded bloke]

I would recommend a fleece or enviro-mesh tunnel,,,,,,,,,why ????????? .......... chuffing alium leaf miner

he visits you as well then BB......

Oh yes indeed Bin's this year & last (if anyone needs pic's I got loads ) so I gotta make some fleece tunnels for the raised bed before the shortest day

[cptncrackoff]

Its my first year growing 'proper garlic' rather than supermarket.
I think it was solent wight i bought.

Ive had great results, big strong plants, nice sized bulbs- much bigger than the supermarket stuff!!
I have got rust, as many people seem to have.
Ive got a few drying, have eaten a few, very very strong tasting!
all together, very good!

[VirginVegGrower]

I would recommend a fleece or enviro-mesh tunnel,,,,,,,,,why ????????? .......... chuffing alium leaf miner

I've got the tunnel love, now I need the varieties, although you did make me smile

[VirginVegGrower]

Its my first year growing 'proper garlic' rather than supermarket.
I think it was solent wight i bought.

Ive had great results, big strong plants, nice sized bulbs- much bigger than the supermarket stuff!!
I have got rust, as many people seem to have.
Ive got a few drying, have eaten a few, very very strong tasting!
all together, very good!

Solent Wight is one I had earmarked as a possible. On your recommendation I'll now make it a definite!
Thank you!

[Kaiya]

I pulled mine today - was terrified my action of stripping the leaves last weekend in the face of rust would have killed them, but no, lovely bulbs!

This is French Thermidrome from the GC, overwintered (planted Oct in modules, planted out in Nov, mulched half heartedly with soggy grass).


(Ignore shallots at top). 17 bulbs. The random 18th small white one is a bulb I found feral on the plot that had been planted in March 2011.


Same pack of bulbs, these ones were planted in a pot. First signs of rust seen today (a good month after those on the lottie) so I pulled them as well as figured they won't finish properly now, especially not in a pot. Much smaller, but they were all together in a 10 inch pot I ran out of space, plus wanted some in pots in case the overwintering lot failed. Won't bother with that again!

I haven't tasted them yet (will taste one tomorrow and let you know), but for my first ever garlic harvest, I am very pleased. And I smell quite strongly of garlic now...