quick question about garlic (MERGED)

~Chameleon~

I went to get some garlic and onions (red) from the fridge today and noticed they have both started sprouting :eek: - the garlic has small green shoots, and the red onions are sprouting white roots!

Could I possibly plant these in some compost and would anything substantial grow from them? I've never grown either before so not sure how one would normally start them off

Calephetos

It's the time to be planting garlic - it needs a cold period to ensure that the bulbs divide, so you plant mid-September for next year's crop. I guess sprouted ones would be OK, but I'm not an expert!

~Chameleon~

Well, it's certainly had a cold period whilst languishing in the fridge the last week or two

I guess I've got nothing to lose but to try it and see!

growingafamily

I am new to growing and would love to grow some onions and garlic.
What is the best way to go about it ??
seperate and plant the cloves or plant as bulbs ??
Please help !
And where on earth do I start with onions ? LOL

hpsaucey

hi. seperate cloves and plant singly. dont use ones from supermarket. try to buy ELEPHANT garlic and then you get big cloves. I get mine from wilkinsons. and treat them like onions. pull up when tops turn yellow and die and string up and keep in cool place.

sunset_gold

Hello all, this is my first ever message.

I want to plant garlic, can anyone tell me if I put a clove in compost on the window ledge will it grow and how long will it take? Will it flower and does that mean it's time to pull it up and use it?

katyk_2

Sorry, Sunset - can't help with your query, but am looking for some advice myself. Seems we are the only 2 to have ventured on here this year so far but hoping others will come along soon. Seem to recall this was pretty good last year.
Anyway, I have recently won a competition and the prize is the services of a gardener for 8 hours and £250 to spend on plants. Thing is I am not quite sure what I can legitimately ask gardener to do (No, nothing like that...).
I have an old garden shed which is falling to bits and I woudl like to dismantle but I would then love to concrete or pave over the bit of garden it stands on (about 12'x8' approx) then buy a new shed and a small greenhouse to go on it. Current shed sits at a tilt and whole are is on a slope so it would have to be levelled out first. Would that be something I could ask a gardener to do or is it more a builders job? Dreading to find out how much it would cost if so.

Mojisola

As no-one else has answered, here's my thoughts:

I think an indoor windowsill will be too warm for garlic. It will do alright in a container outside - it's usually planted in the autumn in the garden and survives the winter cold - but you can plant it any time until April.

Break the head into individual cloves. Each clove will produce a new head after the first season. Plant individual cloves in small pots, or larger ones about six inches apart. Harvest the garlic when the leaves turn yellow - some time in August. If you leave any heads in the soil, they will grow and flower in the second year. By then, the flavour of the cloves will have changed and they will be much woodier in texture.

Using garlic sold in the shops for eating will be a bit hit-and-miss. You may get a decent plant but you will have more assured success with one sold for growing - disease-free and produced for the British climate.

Fresh, 'green' garlic is lovely. Make sure you enjoy plenty before it dries out.

sunset_gold

Thank you for the advice Mojisola, as I didn't get a reply I assumed I was asking a stupid question and didn't plant garlic on the window sill, but did put it in a window box. Unfortunately I did use supermarket garlic cloves so hit-and-miss it is this year. If I end up with any space on my patio (once OH has put up a picket fence to keep the dogs out) I will put in some growing garlic cloves, but want to put new potatoes and tomatoes on patio so will wait and see what space is left. Or do you think I could pop a clove in with the potatoes in the old buckets I plan to use? SG

lexie55_2

www.uktvgardens.co.uk - search growing garlic, and you will get all the info. Good Luck..