Were Radio 4 right?

[Jules]

I remember hearing in the car on Radio 4 (Gardeners Question Time) that you don't havew to separate garlic cloves from the bulb. Apparantly they 'push out' and grow perfectly well if you plant out the bulbs directly.

I have done this and they are looking lush BUT am now panicing that they won't be able to separate into their own bulbs..... did anyone else hear this show... or know if this is true?

I looked on the internet and no-body else is saying this...

[multiveg]

From some wisdom or other, I planted garlic round gooseberries couple of years ago - there are always ones I forget to harvest, so these are yet again, growing. I'd imagine that the growth of the bulbs would break the original bulb apart... My mother planted garlic round her roses (helps in the prevention of blackspot?), but whether she harvested them all is another question...
How long ago was GQT? I take it not last week's? Would it have been something said by Bob Flowerdew (I still haven't got round to putting a fish head in the hole before planting out sweetcorn)?

[Jules]

My garlic is in the floor of the greenhouse. Looks good and as you say, am sure the strength of them will push apart. I think it was GQT some time back in February - but noone I know heard that particular one. I KNOW I didn't imagine it!!!

[ina]

Sorry - I often listen to it, too - but missed that one! But I shall try it next time round - at least with one of them.