Decided to give garlic a go this year, a bit late perhaps as i bought the sets in early March (Homebase). The packet just said to plant the tops inch deep etc etc. Don't think they were elephant garlic, as did not say so on the packet.
What i want to know is, should i have divided the bulbs up, as i am certain there were several cloves in each of the 3 sets?
yes, you should plant each clove individually, i don't know what would happen if you didn't but i'm sure someone here will..
too late! :-[, planted a few weeks ago and now growing thoroughly
David,
Each clove will try to make a plant, each of which will try to make lots of cloves, 10 or more
The result will probably be a lot of very small cloves that taste very good eaten raw in salads - and a resolve to split up garlic next year!! ;)
Phil
Could one not, even now, divide at least one bulb & replant? Nothing to lose??
Thanks Phil
just shows ya does'nt it, even if you think you know what you are doing, you can get it wrong. I will not blame the (lack of) instructions on the packet, but will remember for next time!
Tim, I think I will split one plant and see what happens.
David R
When did you plant them? If it was recent, I would suggest digging them all up and splitting them pronto. It really depends on how advanced the plants and root systems are. Otherwise you'll end up with enough garlic for about one meal!
I reckon a quick complaint to Homebase is in order too - nothing rude. After all, there will always be some garlic virgins in the country!!
That settles it then, i will split all at weekend, tops are about 4 inches high. I expect the plants will get a check but i will keep them moist and keep fingers crossed.
Even at 4" high tops I'd be tempted to try and split them.
However, I'd also be tempted to go and buy another pack & plant that as well (split, this time!) - just as an insurance policy.
Can't remember exactly, but I know I was late planting my garlic last year & still got a relatively decent crop.
One good thing about garlic is that it does store very well (we're still using last years & it's not even sprouting green shoots inside the cloves).
Richard,
I would go with Tim's advice, split one or two and leave the other(s).
On the question of keeping, different varieties vary tremendously, even among the soft necked varieties
Phil
Took one out the ground, and split it. The cloves on the outside were the ones showing leaf, and were producing roots. The cloves in the centre of the set were not showing signs of growth.
Thought what the hec, so all are now split and replanted, with plenty of watering in. They will get a check, but I can probably still get a good crop, perhaps a bit later then normal.
Thanks for the advice.
David
If the inner cloves weren't growing, they soon will be and will catch up in no time.
Well done, David R. That's what we like to see - recklessness on the lottie. Please let us all know what the outcome is (I reckon they will all grow myself). ::)
Quote from: David R on April 24, 2005, 09:58:21
.....Thought what the hec, so all are now split and replanted.....
Another Allotmenteer living on the edge!!! ;)
It's a good job garlic is supposed to be good for the heart or the stress of this gardening lark could prove fatal
Phil
David R
Garlic should be split into individual cloves before planting out!
For best results it should be planted out in October.
PLant cloves 6" apart 2" deep and 12 to 18" between rows.
Harvesting from an autumn planting should, given reasonable weather, provide a good crop in June/July.
Harvesting time is can be assessed by two factors.
1. That 2/3 of the foliage has died down.
2. That each bulb has three dry skin layers before lifting.
I hope this information will provide you with an excellent crop next year.
                              PREMTAL
Does anyone know anything about growing garlic in colder climes?
I planted some sprouting garlic from my vegetable drawer last May, and harvested some small, but exceedingly tasty heads in early October the night before the frost came. I left two in the ground to see what would happen to them over the winter - but when the snow was gone, so were they!
Any idea what happened?
I had a couple of leek that survived, as did one of my broccoli plants - I'm trying to find out what works in this area of Norway...
Merete,
According to one web site, garlic will survive in the ground at temps down to -30 celsius.
There's also a site for Saskatchewan, where it gets quite cold in winter, that says garlic does well there - but you might need to use the hardneck varieties
http://www.usask.ca/agriculture/plantsci/nv/intro.htm
Phil
Cold shouldn't be a problem.... I put mine in last October and now they all have stems about 3/4 inch thick and are about 15 inches high.
I have read somewhere that they form more/bigger cloves if they experience freezing conditions - maybe a spring planting should be preceded by a night or 2 in the freezer?
Thanks! So that's it, then - I have a possible winter crop!
So far, I've been frustrated that my growing season here is so short, but this way, I'll have a chance to get some good out of my little plot in the winter, too.