Allotments 4 All

Has anyone tried this approach to garlic?  Paras 3 and 4

http://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/projects/garlic-grow/

One of my lottie neighbours swears by this method ~ I saw his garlic this year and they were beautiful ! I will try it this way myself this year.

Duke

That's interesting, and Hampshire is hardly the frozen North....  :)

My thinking is that it would free up space for more over wintering brassica.

seems to be a lot of extra work to me but if space is short then could be a good idea

I will put some in cells in January to try that method.  My first attempt at sowing garlic last November was a disaster ::)

Believe it or not I think one of the reasons mine didn't do too well was lack of water in the April May period! Our soil drains very rapidly.

Anyway I'll also give it a go with some.

Cover with cloches? Can't see the growers doing that??

I planted mine out last Monday.

I'm afraid have no space for trays of things that are equally at home in their permanent quarters outdoors.

A couple of things come to mind with this method;

1) With this method they tend to become 'pot bound' before the ground is suited to transplanting.

2) Garlic require a cold spell to split the clove into more cloves.

OK they can have a spell outdoors to compensate for this but I don't know how they would react to going back under protection again.

Nope I'll stick to my tried and tested method plus I don't have to go down to the plots in the middle of winter to see if they have not become too dry.

I rarely visit my plot between November and March, I am in hibernation then ::)

Wouldn't disagree TG.  Wish I had as much space as you but I have to constantly juggle and compromise between crops.

Re keeping under cloches / in GH I imagine this is because cells can get waterlogged pretty easily.

Must admit curious about overcoming the cold spell requirement. I'll probably try mine on the cold frame with the lid open.

QuoteMust admit curious about overcoming the cold spell requirement. I'll probably try mine on the cold frame with the lid open.

Can I suggest you sow by this method in Spring as then you should get a cold spell and the fact that they are protected they should grow faster than say mine.

Mines will have gone into temporary hibernation then, i.e. waiting for the soil to warm up again.

With the above suggestion you should at least not become water logged or pot bound prior to transplanting.

Just an idea!! ::)

I am curious about the commonly accepted theory that garlic require a cold period to split the head of garlic.
For garlic planted in the Mediterranean countries in Spring, is there much in the way of cold spells?

Good point  :)

they've had their cold spell through the winter (it does get cold in the med) whilst in store.

mine went in a week before tee-gee's. I have tried the planting them in cells sketch, I found more care was needed, watering etc, and they resented the root disturbance. ;)