Time for Autumn garlic planting

[Scarlet]

My elephant garlic is going in this weekend although all of this years overwintering garlic suffered white onion rot. Time to start thinking about getting some new cloves in and preparing a new bed well away from my last lot.
Garlic planting calendar here :Calendar :: The Garlic Farm - for all things garlic

What varieties do you grow and when do you plant out? Hints and tips on preparation for my new bed will be much appreciated. I may try growing a few in the greenhouse this year too

[Lumpy]

I took up the offer on Oct mag from Kings as they offered elephant plus 6 different varieties which is more than enough garlic for us.
Can't remember the types as I threw the info away whilst doing one of my manic 'tidy up' sessions.

The elephant will be going into large pots (must find space somewhere for them) and the normal will be going tinto new strip shaped raised beds, about 12in wide, once the OH has built them.

I am hoping he can get started on them at the weekend once hen palace is finished. Any cloves that won't fit I will put amongst the flower beds in the front garden.
Oh I do so like a man slinging a hammer around!

This year my garlic was planted beneath the mini fruit trees and only got a sprinkling of rust just before they were due to be pulled.

[Scoot]

Never done this before but will be keeping a close eye on this thread as I'm thinking of setting some away, probably next month once i have space in my garden after harvesting a few things.

Anything specific i need to do to the area they will be going in? What sort do you suggest for a first time planter of garlic? And any idea where i can get it from?

[Scarlet]

Last year I got mine at a chilli festival, the garlic farm had a stall. Other years I've got them from the Autumn Malvern show. You can get them from garden centres etc. some peeps use supermarket garlic as they are cheaper although if you are going to go down that route I would get them from a local farmers market. It's a safer option as supermarket stuff may prefer a different climate/growing conditions to ours.

[sparrow100]

I got mine from an offer in a different magazine - extra early wight and tuscany wight. When they get here they are going into a manured bed, with a small pile of sand and chicken pellets under each clove for food and drainage. Fingers crossed that they will be ok, previously I got a lot of rust and they looked like they'd been tango'd.

[jonny the plant pot]

I've planted some solent the other week for the first time .
Put 6 in and 5 have come through to about 6 inch tall so will see how I get on .

[SusieG]

Ordered mine about 6 weeks ago - awaiting their arrival eagerly. I'm going to plant mine into large grow bags and overwinter them in GH.
Not done this before, so it'll be trial and error!

[dilettante]

I've tried this a couple of times, with varying levels of success. I can't remember the variety I planted, although I think it had an italian sounding name, and probably wasn't the best choice. I found the garlic grew really well last year in my raised beds with very loose soil, as opposed to my clay, but it also had a mini cloche/polytunnel thing covering it all winter.

My main issue is usually my impatience in wanting to lift it before the foliage turns so I can use the bed for the next crop.

[Stan79]

I bought some Solent White (i think) from RHS Wisley last year after growing some random garlic from my neighbour for the previous two years. Each year has been ok but this year has produced some great sized bulbs which we have just started to cook with. Aroma and flavour is good and i'm using the smallest cloves from this year's crop to grow on for next year... this thread has reminded me that i need to get it planted out (and to buy some onion sets!).

I haven't done anything fancy, ground is largely clay and i'm gradually adding compost each year so the soil is getting lighter but it is quite heavy.

[WendyC]

Ordered mine about 6 weeks ago - awaiting their arrival eagerly. I'm going to plant mine into large grow bags and overwinter them in GH.
Not done this before, so it'll be trial and error!

Never grown garlic but don't they need a period of cold, which they won't get in the greenhouse. Perhaps someone will put me right.

[astraman1]

yes they need the period of cold so that the clove will split into the individual cloves in a bulb

[Scoot]

Last year I got mine at a chilli festival, the garlic farm had a stall. Other years I've got them from the Autumn Malvern show. You can get them from garden centres etc. some peeps use supermarket garlic as they are cheaper although if you are going to go down that route I would get them from a local farmers market. It's a safer option as supermarket stuff may prefer a different climate/growing conditions to ours.

Thanks! Think i might go down the supermarket root to be honest. Looking at how much garlic is from some of these websites has pushed me in this direction lol.

[Lisasbolt]

Bought mine yesterday, i have a whole bed ready for it.
Never really grown garlic before, i am worried about the watering, as it is so dry here so will give the bed a good water but don't want to over water so that they rot. It a hard one.

[Scarlet]

I'm on clay soil Lisa, that floods on occassion. I think they need plenty of moisture, so if your soil is free draining I really wouldn't worry about over watering.

[Scarlet]

Never grown garlic but don't they need a period of cold, which they won't get in the greenhouse. Perhaps someone will put me right.

They do need a period of cold although I read Snadger planted garlic in his GH one year with great success, also another grape who has a plot near me did some in his this year and he said he won't do it any other way now.I've tried elephant garlic in the GH and that worked well too. If the GH is unheated it's still pretty cold in there during winter. I'm going to give it a try, I'll report back with my comparisons. I didn't manage to save one bulb from the rot this year. Just wondering how far away from that bed I need to be not to get it again.