Why such a poor crop of garlic and onions every time?

[4390evans]

over the past two years I have planted garlic and onions and both are poor... well I get 2-3 decent size onions...

I cant remember the name of each I have used but I'm sure the garlic has something to do with elephant ears or something, any-ways the original bulb I buy from HBase is massive so I expect something of that result but nope mine are the size of conkers, what am I doing wrong? I plant at the right time of year I put down chicken manure and feed often with potash ( as they are mixed among my other veg) I cover them with hay to keep the moisture in and they are are just left to grow.

Any ideas because I really don't feel like wasting my time and space growing them again next year...

Thanks guys

[Lumpy]

It sounds like you have been planting Elephant Garlic which has huge cloves. Do you plant in the same place every year? and when (if it is EG) did you plant it?

I tried EG a few years ago. planted it in early winter like its mini cousin etc - it was useless. The following year I shoved it (very unceremoniously) into a planter about the end of March and got hooooooooge bulbs.

How about having a go at planter garlic, the normal sized ones next year.

I am sure somebody on here is a garlic 'pert' and can advise you on which type to get depending upon when you want to sow it.

I get normal garlic and shove (sorry, tenderly plant it in) at the end of Oct as the frost helps the garlic split into cloves.

[Penellype]

I've never grown elephant garlic (I don't like garlic) so I can't help with that. I can tell you what I dow ith onions, and I usually get a decent crop.

Buy sets in the spring - I like Sturon, which is a reliable variety that keeps well.
In January mulch the area (preferably a reasonably sunny site) with well rotted compost and cover with fleece.
In February (providing the ground is not waterlogged or frozen solid in which case delay until March) push the sets into the soil under the fleece, a few inches apart in all directions. I find 4-6 inches adequate, bigger spacing if you want very big onions. Replace the fleece pegging it down so that it is slightly loose to allow for some growth.
Once the onions foliage is about 4 inches high remove the fleece.
Keep weeded and water in dry weather, and harvest in August.
I don't bother feeding but you could if you want to.

Your onions will be smaller if the site is heavily shaded. I sometimes have to use a shaded part of the garden but I try to make sure at least some of the onions get some sun so that I have some bigger ones.

[4390evans]

Thanks guys.

I planted about 4 days before christmas and again the day before or after good friday.
I must of left some in from christmas and found them earlier today I thought well thats sufficient time for it to split and grow but even them are tiny..

If you can suggest a planter vriety I think I will give them ago later this year, if those fail I think ill give up for a bit :/

[Lumpy]

Oh just find a suitably sized planter for your garden/lottie, about 12in deep and off you go.

My planters are 12in square and I put 5 cloves in, one in towards the corners and one in the middle.

I use MPC with the very occaisional multi purpose liquid feed and water them if it is really dry for a few days. I also place my pots near my carrots in the hope that the story of deterring carrot fly is true - it might be as I have no fly problems, but, I am only just getting carrots.

Have a look at the Fruit and Vegetable Showcase as you will see lots of garlics?. My ones are not huge but they are all edible and at the moment drying nicely in the porch.

[Greenleaves]

Everybody is different but I feed the bed two weeks prior to planting onions with pelleted manure + BFB then thats it, I only water if the ground is exceptionally dry. Onions dont like competition for space so I plant mine 6" apart in all directions. If you feed to much nitrogen you will potentially create lush growth which will make any of the allium family prone to rust.

[fishpond]

Manure, compost, maybe some fertilizer, plenty of sun and some water.---no weeds or competition.

[Snadger]

Manure, compost, maybe some fertilizer, plenty of sun and some water.---no weeds or competition.

That about sums it up for me too.........

[Jay-ell]

Are the bulbs multi cloves or are they just one solid round clove?

I believe that elephant garlic will form rounds (single solid bulbs) if the season isn't long enough. If these are planted again they should make large bulbs next season.

[cptncrackoff]

I have never done any good with garlic, I was considering elephant garlic...but this year I bought
Edenrose from dobies...they went into my raised beds at home,quite late in spring, the beds had nothing added from last year , just watered them a bit! ...harvested last week and I'm reasonably happy!!

[Scarlet]

Thanks guys.

I planted about 4 days before christmas and again the day before or after good friday.
I must of left some in from christmas and found them earlier today I thought well thats sufficient time for it to split and grow but even them are tiny..

If you can suggest a planter vriety I think I will give them ago later this year, if those fail I think ill give up for a bit :/

I think that's much too late for planting autumn garlic. I always plant in mid October for a decent size bulb, although this year I got white onion rot

[sunshinekitty]

how did you fertilize the garlic,elephant garlic and onions?

[TrialAndError]

You say your spring planting was based on Good Friday. The problem with Easter is that it moves considerably each year. In 2016 Good Friday will be on 25 March. In 2017 it will be three weeks later, on 14 April. At that time of year it's a huge difference and may well account the difference in cropping results. Use a fixed date so that you can reliably compare results.

[Yasai]

I had a go with supermarket garlic this year. I planted it into shop bought MPC mixed with spent compost and some FBB. Planted them in December before the solstice and have been pleasantly surprised with some great looking garlic. Not all of them separated but the ones that didn't have been saved for replanting. They were in the sunniest part of the garden and not watered much or often. Pretty much just left them to their own devices.

[BUFFS]

Manure, compost, maybe some fertilizer, plenty of sun and some water.---no weeds or competition.

I did all that but still only have "pickled onions" after growing them for 35yrs the weather has stunted this years crop and we can still count the sunny days this year on our fingers with one or two to spare, same result with carrots and beetroot so roll on spring..