Autumn planted garlic in Morrison's buckets - how many?

[marchogaeth]

I have three garlic bulbs for Autumn planting (Eden Rose). After the summer we've had and the rain etc, I'm thinking the chance of overwintering successfully is slimmer than usual. So I was thinking I could plant most of the cloves in Morison's buckets, keep them in the poly over winter and then move them into a sunny spot in the spring. I've looked on Square Foot gardening sites and am still not sure about the number to put in each bucket (they are the full size buckets). What do people think please? Five or Seven or more/less?.

(I think I'll plant a few direct in the tunnel as well for a few early ones to eat green.)

[solway cropper]

I'd be inclined to plant no more than three or four per bucket. What sort of spacing do you use on the plot?
That should give you some idea.

[Kaiya]

Last year I stuck extras in a pot, over crowded (pot was 25cm I think, I had about 7-9 cloves in there). They didn't amount to much at all. They did get rust later than the lot on the lottie but were half the size. However I didn't transplant them so not sure if they would have picked up if given the space.

[veggiechicken]

Just read this http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post891064 I'm thinking about something similar myself - but I've also started some garlic off in modules to plant out later.

[marchogaeth]

Just read this http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tml#post891064 I'm thinking about something similar myself - but I've also started some garlic off in modules to plant out later.

Brillaint link VC, diolch. It ties in with what I was thinking but there seem to be two possible spacings on square foot sites. Seven is deffinitely better from the point of view of number of buckets!

I thought I read that garlic didn't like being disturbed so I started mine in "peat" pots this year but they wont survive the winter intact - hence the question.

[rustylady]

I thought I read that garlic didn't like being disturbed so I started mine in "peat" pots this year but they wont survive the winter intact - hence the question.

What won't survive the winter, the peat pots or the garlic? I hate peat pots - either too wet and soggy or too dry to let the roots through

[marchogaeth]

What won't survive the winter, the peat pots or the garlic? I hate peat pots - either too wet and soggy or too dry to let the roots through

The peat pots. I know what you mean about them (peat pots). They (peat pots) are a complete waste of time for peas or sweetcorn but they (peat pots) worked really well with my Spring sown garlic this year. However, they (peat pots) are only needed for a short while for Spring sown garlic compared with overwintering Autumn sown garlic when I think the roots would be through them (peat pots) breaking down their (peat pots') walls long before they (peat pots with garlic in) needed planting.

[Snadger]

I grew garlic to good effect in the greenhouse over winter last year. I used morrisons buckets and planted seven cloves in each. Six in a hexagon around the edge and one in the middle.
My only mistake was than when I needed the greenhouse space I put the buckets, with plants which were then about a foot high and stems 1/2" diameter outside. I didn't harden them off and they suffered badly.
I still got decent garlic, but not as good as it would have been if I'd left them inside for the duration, or at least hardened them off.
It worked so well I'll be growing this way again this year but because i now have three greenhouses and by next year hopefully a polytunnel as well, I'll be able to keep them under cover.

[marchogaeth]

It worked so well I'll be growing this way again this year but because i now have three greenhouses and by next year hopefully a polytunnel as well, I'll be able to keep them under cover.

Sounds like heaven .

Thanks for the info especially the tip on hardening off. I will remember.