Topic: Garlic advice.

[boldielocks]

I want you thoughts on planting Garlic bought from a supermarket, compared to prepared garlic for planting use.

I may plant both yet.  :-\

[calendula]

in theory it shouldn't make any difference but one year I forgot to order my garlic so bought lovely looking organic bulbs from a supermarket and planted them out - the results were more than disappointing - might be coincidence but won't do it again  :-\

[supersprout]

Supermarket garlic - developed for keeping quality, resistance to transport damage, standard shape and clove size. Might not do well in UK if grown overseas. Mainly softneck.
Seedsman's garlic - developed for taste, keeping quality, and the UK climate by people who love garlic. Loads of different varieties and tastes to choose from, hardneck and softneck - if you buy a few different ones you'll find what grows best and what varieties suit your tastebuds :P

In following years you can plant from your own stock for FREE - some people say it adapts to your own soil conditions and grows better each year :) So IMO the first year's investment is well worth it ;D

[boldielocks]

Cheers guys.

Also can you help me with were I can buy garlic and onion sets at this time of year. I have managed to get some on ebay, my local garden centres dont stock any yet. I was thinking it maybe mail order or websites. Did manage to get some broad beans at the garden centre.  :)

[Georgie]

This is where I got mine from.
 
http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=141

G x

[boldielocks]

Nice one Georgie

[Merry Tiller]

Tried growing supermarket garlic once, bulbs were tiny. Buy some of the proper stuff & keep the best to plant the following year

[Robert_Brenchley]

Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. It's worth a try.

[Merry Tiller]

Sorry, I disagree, if it doesn't work you have a whole year to wait until you can try again, why not go for the better option to begin with?

[Rosyred]

http://www.seedsofitaly.com/catalogue/15

I got mine from here this year so I can't give you any results.

[MattyJC]

My garlic came really quick and were of excellent quality, I bought them from
http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/ already planted, so lets hope the results are good!

Regards

Matt

[supersprout]

http://www.seedsofitaly.com/catalogue/15

I got mine from here this year so I can't give you any results.

Got mine from them last year, great results. Got a couple of different varieties from Dobies this year to try :)

[tim]

Just to stress that point - the bigger the cloves the bigger the Garlic.

[supersprout]

I wondered about that when I was planting them tim - does that mean I shouldn't bother planting the wee ones and eat them instead? ::)

[Robert_Brenchley]

The Garlic Farm are excellent. Small cloves will produce small garlic, but last year I planted everything I got from the GF, and got good sized bulbs. If you have really wee cloves, they're worth growing for green garlic - treat them like spring onions. If you want to try the supermarket stuff, go for the biggest bulbs.