Storing garlic for planting later in the year

lbt_2

Hi

Someone gave me some Solent Wight garlic earlier this year and although it was quite late in the garlic year I planted it, and now have several lovely garlic plaits.

I'd like to keep some of the best cloves for planting in November but I am not sure how to store them. Has anyone done this before?

Many thanks

rhiwfield

Lucky you on being given this, I bought mine 4 years ago!

Just keep the lifted garlic dry. Dont put it in the fridge, but room temp fine. In November plant fat cloves from your best bulbs for lifting next year.

I dont split the bulbs before then just to be on safe side.

rosy798

I was wondering this too. My monster garlic had five little babies around it when I dug it up. I am guessing that I could plant these come November?

lbt_2

I know, I was delighted - I had tried to buy Solent Wight but couldn't get any, then someone offered some on freecycle! I got 10 bulbs!!!! I have my garlic plaited and hung up in the kitchen in the same place as last year, as last years are still good. Thanks

Rosy, I'd keep some of your biggest and best cloves for planting - you are more likely to get good results, but you could have a go with the smaller ones too and see which are better.

iainsmum

I have a (silly) question please.....

Could I plant cloves from a shop bought garlic bulb? Or do they need to be specific 'planting' strain?
Also, if I can plant them, how and where? Just in the veg plot? Or in a pot? Or pot first and plant out?

Never really thought about homegrown garlic before. Thanks

Orange_King

Garlic are supposed to benefit from a frost so you should put them directly into the veg plot iainsmum.

I put mine in in February and they have done ok - an extra couple of months would have brougfht aboout better results I reckon.

elsien

iainsmum wrote: »

ICould I plant cloves from a shop bought garlic bulb? Or do they need to be specific 'planting' strain?
Also, if I can plant them, how and where? Just in the veg plot? Or in a pot? Or pot first and plant out?

You can plant shop bought ones but they can be a bit hit and miss. I'd probably avoid supermarket ones - you don't know how they've been kept and stored, - but I got a largish bulb from a local farm shop last year that I know has good quality veg, and the results were just as good as this years solent wight.
I plant and grow mine in pots, but only because I can't plant directly into the ground where I live - you need to make sure they're kept well watered for them to grow to a decent size if you do choose to use a pot. I alway put mine in in the autumn.