Allotments 4 All

I am finding this all so fascinating, I never realised there was so much involved in planting garlic !!! I accept that the garlic will grow regardless, but we are all after decent crops after all, so details like this DO matter ...

Derekthefox :D

And keep up-to-date?


Like - http://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/garlicfarmer.asp

Indeed thank you Tim, that is now in my favourites ...

Derekthefox :D

I promised -

"Good to hear from you. You can bring the rows down to 14” apart or up to 36”. In theory you can then put the bulbs closer together within the row or in a crow foot order but we find the best population and size will come from about 16” and bulbs 5-6” apart.

Hope this helps" - Colin

Tim - hmm, looked again at planting depth and also that link, which is really good.

I actually went out and pushed my finger into the soil, the way that I really do when planting - and guess what - no way is it 3" !!  More like one and a half, so yes, there would be about an inch of soil on top when covered.
So I have learned today that I have littler fingers than I thought!

Perhaps you planted them at 3 inches, but they have worked their way upwards? This forllows simple fluid theory, whereby bodies close to a boundary layer will tend to migrate towards that layer... Alas the mathematics of it eludes my befuddled brain now ...

Derekthefox :D

Seems I got it right by pure acident, I poke a hole with my index finger to the depth of the second knuckle. That seems to equate to a covering of 1" when filled in.    {:¬)#

Oh dear...I planted mine like onions!! Got so worried, went and trenched them up!! Have probably done more harm than good, but they're growing away quite happily, perhaps they haven't read the book and I'll get away with it.. :-\

LIkewise Lottie.  Planted so the tip of the clove was just below ground but they have sprouted and have leaves about 6" long and appear happy enough.  Last year I did the same and had the only crop from all the plots without rust.  Beginners luck maybe but who knows.

I also though that you planted them close to the surface because some frost helped prevented the plants going to seed?

Iain

Phew!! OK then, don't feel too much of a dufus...well do, but normal ammount..

Frost, Iain, 'makes them clove'.

Quotesome frost helped prevented the plants going to seed

Quote

Frost, Iain, 'makes them clove'

what about the garlic that´s grown in countries without winter frost? must be 90 %
of all garlic or more i suppose.

I think it is a prolonged period with a soil temperature below 10^oC that makes them clove.  Frost is just a guarentee that they have spent a prolonged period below 10^oC

oic,  my "something learned every day" thing then    ;D

Interesting point, blight!

Quote "Isle of Wight Garlic is planted from October to February and the first garlic shoots mark the rows from January onwards. Garlic requires a spell of cold weather, generally 1-2 weeks at 0-4C, to prepare itself physiologically for bulb formation later in the year"