Martin B Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Hi again, second post in here in quick succession! I was just wondering how on earth you grow garlic. As most of you know I am expanding my vegetable and fruit growing and this appeals to me. Does anyone have any ideas? Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 Easy one to grow, it's best to buy bulbs for planting, but you can grow it from the stuff you buy to cook with. Plant the individual cloves, a couple of inches between each one in rows, and they will sprout like onions, wait until the green top starts to die down, and then the bulbs should be ready to pull up and eat Good luck! karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 I think you just stick it in the ground like you would a spring onion.... (not very technical I know! ) I say this because once, aged about 13, I ate a whole fresh garlic that my dad had mistaken for a spring onion in the vegetable patch and put in the salad - my word did I stink afterwards. We went bowling that night and had to drive with car windows open..... Before anyone points out that the leaves are different on garlic, darling dad had cut them off really short. The spring onions they were growing that year were enourmous so the size didn't give it away either Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 So just plant in the ground? Sounds simple, is there any special preperations for a bed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted February 3, 2007 Share Posted February 3, 2007 So just plant in the ground? Sounds simple, is there any special preperations for a bed? Nice clean sheets, lovely warm duvet, plump up your pillows [sorry Martin ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 3, 2007 Author Share Posted February 3, 2007 Just reread it. I was asking for it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Just make sure the soil is well prepared, no stones, roots etc. Garlic, like onions, doesn't like weeds so keep the area weed free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted February 4, 2007 Author Share Posted February 4, 2007 Just make sure the soil is well prepared, no stones, roots etc. Garlic, like onions, doesn't like weeds so keep the area weed free. Thanks Christian, you seem very knowledgable about gardening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 Thanks Martin but Not if you ever see my garlic! Its the one thing I have never been able to grow! Will try again this year! The other thing I meant to say, is it doesnt like heavy soil that gets water logged as it causes the bulb to rot. if you soil is very 'heavy/clay' then add sand to a small area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlottechicken Posted February 4, 2007 Share Posted February 4, 2007 I managed to grow garlic fairly easily in our soil a few years ago. It appears to thrive on neglect too........good job really, it is a 'skill' I have naturally I didn't prepare the soil or anything, just stuck the cloves in and walked away. If you pamper it with a bit of preparation you may get a bumper crop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 I always plant mine in autumn as they need a long growing time. Plant them as soon as you can Martin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted February 5, 2007 Share Posted February 5, 2007 I was told best to plant in November as you will get bigger bulbs or March , if you have very soggy soil, when the soil starts to warm up again but you will get smaller bulbs fromthe shorter growing period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura & CTB Posted February 7, 2007 Share Posted February 7, 2007 I managed to grow garlic fairly easily in our soil a few years ago. It appears to thrive on neglect too........good job really, it is a 'skill' I have naturally Same here - CTB bunged a clove in one of my tubs last year and it grew really well - took me ages to figure out what it was though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chooks Aloud Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 You get bigger garlic if you buy corns specially for planting, rather than planting ones that you use for cooking. From what I can remember, I planted mine last Autumn, you have to plant them quite deep, about 2" down. Then you just leave them and dig them up in the summer once the tops have died down (hope this makes sense). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matter Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 Growing garlic was on "grow your own veg" this week on BBC2. It said that if its planted and doesnt get exposed to frost it grows as a single solid bulb, whereas if it gets a chill it devides into loads of cloves. So dont know if its too late. Never tried it myself,but nothing to loose even if its one massive clove good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bellekatz Posted February 16, 2007 Share Posted February 16, 2007 my father - in - law (italian) just sticks a normal bulb in the ground and up it comes He often sticks them between rose bushes and they seem to do well - maybe its just natural with him though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
