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planting wild garlic that's in the green

REMF33REMF33 Posts: 641
in Plants

Hello

I have just taken delivery of a load of wild garlic. It's in full leaf and in some cases flower. Sorry if this is a stupid question, but how should I plant it? Presumably leave the leaves on (although it's so tempting to eat them...)? And how far down should I put the bulbs?

I know it's invasive but if anything will grow and spread a little in my root-choked, shrub filled, garden I would be grateful.

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  • Blue OnionBlue Onion Posts: 2,941

    Not sure, but I would imagine a bit like snow drops that are purchased in the green.  Dig your hole, plant them up to the correct depth (look to see where they were growing at previously, white/yellow changing to green on leaves), and give them a good water.  Let them establish this year, and then eat them up next year.  If you have a load, eat some prior to planting out the bulb (which may or maynot survive.. but as you have so many you won't miss a few).  

    Utah, USA.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 82,782

    I agree with Blue Onion. image

    “I am not lost, for I know where I am. But however, where I am may be lost.” Winnie the Pooh







  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 641

    Thanks! Both of you! I probably won't be able to plant them up until Saturday...(need to prepare some ground. I know, I am a bit ill-prepared). I have put them in a bag with some moist compost. I hope that will be ok. My mother (expert gardener, but more in the flower department) said to put them in water, but I wasn't too sure about that!

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,992

    moist compost sounds better to me, leave the top open, don't close them in



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 641

    Thank you!

  • November MemberNovember Member Posts: 139

    Wild garlic is tough as old boots.

    I replanted some that had been dug out and left for weeks on top of the soil .

    Had originally thought of throwing away but decided to plant them up.

    A few weeks later they looked as good as their static brothers and sisters.

    Just plant them to the correct depth and if ground dry water a bit after planting.

  • AndytheScientistAndytheScientist Posts: 223

    If you don't want it to spread about just make sure you take off the flowers. The bulbs don't increase that much, it's the self seeding that makes it spread quickly.

  • frensclanfrensclan Posts: 119

    On a totally different tack I planted woodruff in a similar situation and this provides a lovely ground covering mound of bright green foliage with lots of white flowers in the spring. Beware as like wild garlic it is a bit of a thug but easily removed if necessary. As my soil was so poor and under very old trees it was just what I needed though.

  • REMF33REMF33 Posts: 641
    Four years on from my initial post, I've just placed what's probably my my 4th (yearly, it seems) order for wild garlic in the green. It just won't take! This is partly due to gardeners pulling it up, I suspect, but not entirely. My garden is very root bound due to previous owners filling with shrubs, so I can plant very little. But I put some of it in my herb patch which is root free(ish) and still no joy. It's very frustrating as I am yet to harvest any! This time, I plan to create a little raised bed with a segment from a broken beehive composter , which will be label with 'don't weed' or some such (although I am in between gardeners at the moment.) Will position under one of the (many) shrubs/trees, I guess.
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 26,992
    keep some in a pot and let it flower and seed to where you want it to grow. It prefers moist soil and doesn't do well if it's dry and rooty


    In the sticks near Peterborough
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