We eat loads of onions and garlic but unfortunately this years crop was cr*p! Very small onions and I have to use a whole garlic bulb instead of a single clove :( I started my lottie last august from scratch, double dug and made raised beds. I added bullock manure and the freebie compost from our local council scheme....what did I do wrong and what can I do to get better results next harvest?
I think it may be the time, starting in August would not give them time to bulk up, that is of course if we are talking about august 2005.
I get OK results for onions and garlic. For autumn sets/bubs I dig ove the plot and then add a handful of fish blood and bone per square metre. Hoe/rake this in and then plant the sets or garlic cloves.
Sets are pushed in just below soil surface and covered if the birds start to pull them up.
Garlic I set 2 inches under ground and sometimes add a little washed sand to the bottom of the hole to help drainage. I plant garlic about now, indeed most went in last weekend.
They are kept weed free but beware getting to close with a hoe as onions are shallow rooted.
They get another feed in the spring and that is about it.
I treat spring planted sets much the same.
Jerry
Thank you Jerry and thanks for asking aga - I was just about to ask the same!
D
thanks Jerry, have planted them and I also add fish and blood...so am keeping my fingers xed big time 8)
Just saw this in a guide -
Garlic that is water stressed in it's early growing period can 're-vernalise', which means the plant in effect 'cancels' the side buds that were about to grow into cloves, and produces a single fat, low quality clove instead.
the only time they benefit from weeds is may and beyond, it helps with taking the excess water in (onions/garlic shouldnt be watered from may onwards, so i have been told)
i planted my garlic in february 2005 and they were ready end of june. most grew to a good size - i had a couple that didnt 'clove' ...
first time onions this year - along with my garlic both will be over wintering
I had cloves.......but very small ones (taste fab 'tho) and they were planted in the autumn along with the onions. Don't like hoeing at the best of times,so just pulling the odd weed sounds favourable and I'll try not to water too much next year.
I always plant sets in February. This year I used organic sets from a local supplier, spread the patch with bonfire ash before setting and watered when required in the early weeks .
A very fine crop resulted.
Have a look here :) i find this place a great place for information on garlic in the UK
http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/index.asp
Rocker - you gave them the Potash that the Garlic Farm recommend!
I just received my order from the Garlic Farm and the bulbs are Enormous!!! Fantastic hints on growing and recipes too. A bit pricey but you do get what you pay for.
Hi Agapanthus,
             This was my first season growing my own garlic, of the 30 cloves of Printanor planted I had 29 good sized healthy bulbs at harvest time.
Our old timers told me to plant the cloves in the last two weeks of October through to the first week in November.
I was also told, as Ageing Rocker has said to spread bonfire ash and dig it in prior to planting the cloves.
during the spring and early summer I was told to use comfrey and nettle tea at the rate of one cup to two gallons of water as a feed.
At the end of the day your location probably determines planting time but the preparation and feeding I was told to use was most likely the key to my success.
I hope this will be of some help to you. ;D
                            PREMTAL
Any really wee cloves from the centre of the bulb, plant in a group elsewhere & pull as green garlic.
I planted my garlic last Friday and on the plot yesterday I noticed that some of the cloves had completely come up out of the ground and were lying on the soil surface. No sign of any disturbance or heave. Strange ???
I´ve seen crows doing that. I stick them back in. Once rooted it doesn´t seem to happen anymore.
Plant them deeper, if you have had rain and the soil has settled the cloves will look like they have 'popped' out, i put mine in 2-3 times the height of the clove :)
QuoteI planted my garlic last Friday and on the plot yesterday I noticed that some of the cloves had completely come up out of the ground and were lying on the soil surface. No sign of any disturbance or heave. Strange
Aliens!!! They where abducted by aliens :o :o
Lol
The_Snail
;D ;D ;D
Hi Premtal..
I've got a big bin full off bonfire ash and although I've already planted my bulbs I don't think it would do any harm spreading a bit on top and gently rake in..would it? Definitely try the nettle feed though :D
As Dawn says - if they are at the right depth, nothing will take them.
Onion sets - yes!
Hi Aagpanthus,
             No reason why that should not work, the rain and snow will do the rest. ;D
PS:- plant your cloves 2" deep. ;)
                           PREMTAL