Growing garlic

comping_cat

Ohh, i planted a clove of garlic a couple of months ago, and i now have a green 'spike' sticking up, does that mean the garlic is ready?

leonie_2

Right i've dug all my garlic up as I noticed that about halfway up the stem there was what seems to be another garlic bulb growing! I'm assuming thats the flower that was mentioned earlier.

Is this any good? If I keep it can I replant that instead of a proper garlic bulb in the autumn?

Penelope_Penguin

Hi, all. Couple of things. Best time to plant garlic is 20th October (my birthday :beer: ). However, if your soil is cold and wet, best wait until springtime.

The garlic BULB is split into CLOVES, which are planted individually, each to grow into its own bulb.

Once the foliage has started to go brown and die back, it won't be doing any more growing this season, so get it out and let it dry off, so that you can store it.

You acn always do a bit of an investigation, by taking the soil away carefully, using a trowel. Return it if you think there's more growing to be had.

We dig ours around end July / August. It'll be earlier in the balmy south!

Penny. x

leonie_2

Penelope_Penguin wrote:

We dig ours around end July / August. It'll be earlier in the balmy south!

Penny. x

Oh no, dont tell me i've dug mine out too soon The cloves are a little on the small side but I was worried that the new thing growing would mean it would go to seed!

Oh well, im sure they will be great...if a little small. I put them in late so assumed that the growing time was over.

I shall save a couple of cloves to plant out in autumn. Next years crop will be huge!

Penelope_Penguin

leonie wrote:

Oh no, dont tell me i've dug mine out too soon The cloves are a little on the small side but I was worried that the new thing growing would mean it would go to seed!

Oh well, im sure they will be great...if a little small. I put them in late so assumed that the growing time was over.

I shall save a couple of cloves to plant out in autumn. Next years crop will be huge!

That's the spirit! When I have my gravestone, I'm having "next year will be different" on it, translated into Latin. Gardening is all about learning, and optimism, in the face of disappointing reality!

Make sure you plant the biggest cloves. It's so tempting to use them in the kitchen, and plant the runts, but runty seed will likely produce a runty crop. Also, garlic from the garden centre is bred for the British climate, unlike that from the supermarket. I noticed a real difference in yield when I started to buy my seed cloves from a reputable garden centre.

Penny. x

PS, how's your poorly chook? We've put our baby chicks (4 weeks old) out into the shed overnight for the first time. It's more nerve racking than having children.

GreenFingers_2

Hello IWannaSaveMoney,

Here's a post on garlic that I posted last November which may help....:D

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=111195

leonie_2

I bought my garlic from a garden centre, however it said to plant it in November but I forgot until about March so I reckon mine wasnt too happy with me, thats why it grew the knobbly bit on the stem. Can I assume this was the flower seed then? I may just plant it to see what happens. Its almost like a perfect little garlic bulb but its growing halfway up the stem

PS Penny, it seems my hen is probably broody because she acts normal when we take her out of the coop. Gosh they are worse than kids!

badgerbuckets

Hi all. I am new to growing garlic too, this is my first crop, so my fingers are tightly crossed! I have 'Elephant Garlic' in at the mo - supposed to be a giant bulb when harvested, so watch this space! I too am interested in the best time to harvest, and found this website: http://gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_april_3_garlic.asp (copy/paste into your browser)
it takes you to the correct page! Worth a look - and good luck all with your crops!

Angelina-M

Morning!

I went to the supermarket yesterday and they were selling off three garlic bulbs for 15p so I bought nine to keep me going, however I just wonder if I will have any luck planting it out?

It says produce of Spain on it so will it be too cold here? I'm thinking of potting into pots anyway so could probably put in the greenhouse?

Otherwise, I have some small bulbs left from last years crop, will they do anything, they are just the size of marbles?

Fishcake_Random

You should be fine. i brought some garlic 2years ago and havent brought any since.each time i use it i plant the largest clove and grow another bulb.
remember though yours wont be as large as the shops ones. but they will taste better.
i keep mine on a windowsill as it doesnt seem to like it to soggy.
h2h

love fishcake
x x x x