Growing garlic

chadspad · Post: # 61957Post **chadspad** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 1:05 pm

I planted some garlic months ago which my Dad very kindly rotovated up

I replanted them but the tops have all died off and some that I dug up have just gone mouldy. Have just noticed on 2 sets that there are tiny bulbs growing thru the dried stems/stalks above the ground. They are about pea size. If I leave them will they get bigger? Does anyone have previous experience of this? I dont think its the seed as theyre like onion seeds arent they?

Cheezy · Post: # 61984Post **Cheezy** » Mon Jun 18, 2007 3:20 pm

Leave that second set. That happend to me last year when I made the fatal mistake of planting them with my broad beans (to discourge black fly)

Left some of the "spring onion" sized mini cloves, and they came up first this year before the winter sown ones, and I have started cropping them a couple of weeks ago, really brilliant bulbs.

THis year I did the same thing as last and sowed next to my broad beans garlic. Then I read its one of the big no-no's. Didn't know why.....until now.

The extra nitrogen in the soil from the beans makes the garlic bolt. I planted loads of garlic this year as I have the lottie, some next to beans some not. All the ones next to beans have tried to flower, and this means that there will be smaller bulbs, but hopefully an extra set . I may leave these for next year and see if I get loads!.

EDIT29/06/07

I've just read that if they "bolt" is also to do with if they are a soft neck,semi hard neck or hard neck type. The harder the neck the more chance they will put on a flower. But wait, in America these are a sort after and are known as Scrapes, and used in stir fries and salads.
They sell for quiet some money....

Wished I hadn't composed mine now

Mare Owner · Fri Jun 29, 2007 5:55 am

The chickens have scratched up my sprouting bulbs. I think they may have missed one lonely sprout. Told my husband I need a fence, or the chickens have to go back in the coop!

kimmysmum · Post: # 63764Post **kimmysmum** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:55 am

I planted my individual cloves in June which is the first month of Winter down here and they are 7 up out of 9 this is the best time to plant them in my Sub-Tropical climate.

vixnpips · Post: # 63837Post **vixnpips** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 3:35 pm

have to say I just chucked in a couple of cloves ( shop bought and really old in the back of the larder!) .. into a pot and left them on the windowsill.. about 1.5 weeks ago... and have 6inch leaves now coming up.. am about to transfer them to a larger tub.. will let you know how it goes.

the.fee.fairy · Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:06 pm

I can't remember when i planted mine. I think it was september last year. Do i have to wait for them to flower/wither like onions? Or shall i pull them up and eat them now?

kimmysmum · Post: # 63878Post **kimmysmum** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:33 pm

Don't quote me Fairy but I am sure you pull them after flowering and braid the leaves so that several may be stored hung up in a dry cool place for later use.

the.fee.fairy · Mon Jul 02, 2007 9:20 pm

Thankyou!

They've not flowered yet, so i'll wait til they do and see what happens.

vixnpips · Post: # 63910Post **vixnpips** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:20 am

when the leaves start to turn brown, use a garden fork to lift the blub gently out of the ground. Leave to dry in the sun for a few days, before plaiting and storing in a dry airy place.

country living, july 2007

thought I'd add this as read it after I read the thread.

Cheezy · Post: # 63978Post **Cheezy** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 3:36 pm

the.fee.fairy wrote:I can't remember when i planted mine. I think it was september last year. Do i have to wait for them to flower/wither like onions? Or shall i pull them up and eat them now?

See my post above Fee by bolting I mean flowering, hopefully if you have the right variety they wont flower, as this leaves a hard stalk down the centre of the bulb. If they show signs of flowering you should pull it out, otherwise it will put energy into flowering and setting seed and not your bulb.
You can eat the flower stalk it's called scapes in the USA.

As soon as the leaves start to yellow , they are ready to go, you don't have to wait for them to fully wither. You can eat them before this as "green" garlic which is more mild.

If you planted them in September they should be ready by now

the.fee.fairy · Tue Jul 03, 2007 5:10 pm

Brill.

I'll dig up a couple and see what's going on with them.

Peggy Sue · Wed Jul 04, 2007 12:53 pm

I litterally stuck a few shop bought cloves in the ground a few months back, and some a few weeks back. They have all helpfully sprung up. I will keep a look out for flowering/brown leaves. Last year I did the same, waited for what felt like ages then dug them up regardless without flowers or browning. It was like one large clove. Very tasty but obviously not mature. Much stronger than the shop I thought....

the.fee.fairy · Wed Jul 04, 2007 3:13 pm

That's exactly what i planted! 8 of them.

I'll dig a couple up at the weekend and see what they're up to.

glenniedragon · Wed Jul 04, 2007 5:09 pm

I'm now on the grandchildren of a T***o value bulb I bought a couple of years ago! not bad for a 20p investment! I like garlic at the 'wet' stage, before they bulb so I dig half up then, and leave half to bulb.

Kind thoughts
Deb

Cheezy · Post: # 64206Post **Cheezy** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:36 am

Peggy Sue wrote:I litterally stuck a few shop bought cloves in the ground a few months back, and some a few weeks back. They have all helpfully sprung up. I will keep a look out for flowering/brown leaves. Last year I did the same, waited for what felt like ages then dug them up regardless without flowers or browning. It was like one large clove. Very tasty but obviously not mature. Much stronger than the shop I thought....

I think I'm right in saying that you probably planted the clove after the cold nights?

I think cold nights encourage the bulb to divide into cloves. Thats why you plant on the shortest day traditionally or on Christmas day as some people say. If you get just one fat bulb, leave it in the ground for next year, I did this this last year and I got really early git big bulbs this year.