Garlic planting in pots
As I’ve mentioned I’m a novice on the gardening front, all help is appreciated, I am planting new apple and pear trees soon but due to hand injury I can’t dig. So in the meantime decided to plant garlic in containers, I’ve ordered the bulbs. Looking into the soil aspects, I’m confused.com, research shows, some say use compost, some say potting soil with compost, some say potting mix. So I’m confused on the soil front, also the use of slow release fertilisers, others say bone meal. Of course some folks will have their favourite methods. I’m seeking a tried and test method to increase my chances of having some garlic late summer. I will cover the new planting to protect from frost but should be ok living in London, we don’t get deep frost. Appreciate any help from garlic growers, thank you in anticipation
0
Posts
Garlic is the easiest veg to plant.
Select a 4 foot wide plot and chose the length that suits you.
Weed and chop the soil to a coffee grain size.
Measure the width of your hoe and add 6 inches and plant the cloves that width apart. This is so you can hoe leaving 3 inches each side of the hoe without disturbing the cloves.
Take the fluffy bits off the clove and sow them half way into the soil with the root bit at the bottom..
Check them for the first few days as birds will pull them up as they are curious.
After a week you can gently pull one up and you will see the roots have started.
You dont need straw or nets or fleece or any special Stuff.
They are the SAS of veg
Water a bit if it gets hot.
Thats it.
Next Autumn save some of the WHOLE bulbs and dont split them
In late Autumn split the bulbs into cloves and plant again.
You will never have to buy any again.
I would say (and this is purely anecdotal from what I've found so far - the others may know better than me when they say don't use pots) that as long as your containers are large enough that the bulbs have got room to grow then there's no reason that you can't grow them in containers. I grew half of mine in a veg bed and half in a tub because my garden is tiny, so if you don't have a large garden to work with and that's what works for you then just give it a go and see what happens!
Best of luck with your garlic crop.
I always plant 100 cloves and I still have about 30 bulbs ( 6 cloves in each ) to use. No green shoots yet.
I use garlic in cooking about 3 or 4 times a week.
I cant remember.
I bought some bulbs from my local fruit and veg shop and started them off probably in 2017 and kept enough to replant every year.
I sow 100 as its easier for me to remember and to fill a 4 foot x 14 foot bed.
each bulb gave me about 6 to 8 cloves.
I recently got some organic ones for my 74 yo fellow plot holder from
https://www.realfoods.co.uk/product/56/organic-garlic
To my amazement there were about 12 or 14 cloves per bulb so she now has about 120 cloves starting off.They were bigger and pink instead of white.
Just given 6 from last year to a couple who are starting their new allotment and left a plastic box with 5 on my front wall where its a physical type of ebay.
Hope that helps.