Where to find the best quality onion and garlic bulbs ?

[Forage420]

I don't find garden centres to be much good so I was looking online but a lot of internet based seed companys seem to stock the exact same stuff you can get in garden centres. I want large over-wintering onion bulbs and garlic with guaranteed high germination, where can I find these?

[Scarlet]

I don't grow onions so I'm no help there but most of my garlic has come from the garlic farm...I have grow supermarket garlic and I'm my experience the cloves aren't that big and often don't store well although ive had some great results from local market stalls. The garlic farm often sell on stalls at fetes, Christmas markets etc. although if you want to plant some Autumn garlic you may need to buy online now.

Home :: The Garlic Farm - for all things garlic

[DannyK]

I've had good results with bulbs from Garlic Farm.

They've a big range.

[Forage420]

I don't grow onions so I'm no help there but most of my garlic has come from the garlic farm...I have grow supermarket garlic and I'm my experience the cloves aren't that big and often don't store well although ive had some great results from local market stalls. The garlic farm often sell on stalls at fetes, Christmas markets etc. although if you want to plant some Autumn garlic you may need to buy online now.

Home :: The Garlic Farm - for all things garlic

Haha Yeah you're right. I was actually there this year and bought some elephant garlic which I planted a month or so ago and it's just starting to come up. I regret not buying more though, just a bit pricey at the time. I eat so much of the stuff I really want about half my plot seeded with over-wintering garlic to have enough. If I cook curries or bolognese or some such dish I can crush up an entire bulb in one meal.

[Scarlet]

Well, I started with the garlic farm garlic and made sure I saved enough for the following year to grow on..I usually over 100 cloves. Elephant garlic is the same, I probably planted about 50 this year.

Although last year I had to start from scratch with the garlic as I had white onion rot. If you want that much garlic you either need to fork out now or slowly build up your stock.

Where abouts are you? Bath Christmas market always have a stall. Although I bought more at the Countryfile live show this year, they have a list on their website which shows they visiti.You may be lucky.

[Forage420]

Well, I started with the garlic farm garlic and made sure I saved enough for the following year to grow on..I usually over 100 cloves. Elephant garlic is the same, I probably planted about 50 this year.

Although last year I had to start from scratch with the garlic as I had white onion rot. If you want that much garlic you either need to fork out now or slowly build up your stock.

Where abouts are you? Bath Christmas market always have a stall. Although I bought more at the Countryfile live show this year, they have a list on their website which shows they visiti.You may be lucky.

North London and prepared to travel. Thanks for the tips. I've signed up for the countryfile news letter so I'll be able to know about their upcomming shows, don't think they have anything on at the minute according to their website.

I may buy enough garlic bulbs from the garlic farm to get free shipping, which variety do you reckon on ? It's a toss up between the picardy and solent white.

[Scarlet]

Garlic farm are getting about a bit here's their calendar :
Calendar :: The Garlic Farm - for all things garlic

Ive grown Solent white, great crops. Never tried Picardy - it may be worth trying out both

[Forage420]

So I ended up buying the solent & picardy. According to them it's prime time for planting those varieties. Think I'll have enough to cover half the plot. From what I've seen of the elephant so far (bought back in may) the shoots look very healthy and thick and sitting strong.

Not sure what to do about wintering onions. I've never been successful with them from seed packets or intend to try. I'll be checking out those farmer's markets you bet.

[Kirk]

If you try overwintering onion sets, suspect it is a bit late now, then you may have better results with the small ones not the big ones.

The big ones may have grown/developed sufficent to have counted the growing they did as the first year, meaning next spring is the start of the second year and in the second year they go to seed.

[Forage420]

If you try overwintering onion sets, suspect it is a bit late now, then you may have better results with the small ones not the big ones.

The big ones may have grown/developed sufficent to have counted the growing they did as the first year, meaning next spring is the start of the second year and in the second year they go to seed.

This guy agrees:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbR_4PpA9BE

He says the small ones sometimes do the best, throw away ones that have sprouted and wrinkled up.

[Forage420]

Not sure if I'm wasting my time now or not, but I couldn't resist buying a bag of some of these. They are called 'ELECTRIC'. I bought half a kilo instead of a full kilo at £5. It says they mature in May but I've missed the optimum plant out time by a good month + so I'm not sure I'll get much out of them.

I'll prep the soil and add a few handfuls of blood and bone and also I'll leave them poking out a bit. I didn't realise this was important, in the past I also buried onions pretty deep.