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Garlic and planting dates.

SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
in Fruit & veg
I planted one set of garlic in October, they got a good covering of lawn clippings, the remnants of which can be seen in the photo, and yes it looks like pure beech leaves.. because it pretty much is. The second smaller ones closer to the camera were planted in January, at that point the first ones had not appeared yet. these got a covering of compost which has nearly vanished. Now in April it's very clear to see the difference, it will be interesting to see what the final difference is. Both sets will get a couple of lawn clipping mulches when we start to cut the lawns. I have no idea what type of garlic it is, it's a hardneck with purple tints that I got from the supermarket about 8 years ago and have been growing ever since, there's just short of 300 cloves planted. I'll update the thread as the season goes on.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Interesting @Skandi.  I got ours planted in February - 2 months later than usual - and it took ages to come thru but is now doing well.   No idea whether it's hard or soft neck.  We don't mulch it after planting but I'll ask OH to start with his next lot of clippings.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    By the middle of May the difference is still very clear with the older planting being twice as thick and nearly twice as tall.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Both sets have now been harvested, the earlier ones were ready at the start of July and the later ones on the 31st of July There was about 3 weeks difference in harvest date. Size wise the earlier planted garlic are larger and more consistent. Once they are both dried down I'll weigh them and then I can see what the difference really is. But after the longest drought in 28 years we've now had the wettest July since records began, so drying anything is a challenge.
  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    An interesting trial.
  • diggersjodiggersjo Posts: 172

    We plant hardneck garlic in November as we like the scapes they produce before the harvest. I thought we grew a lot (over a 100 for 2 people), but 300… ! 

    Some really good tips on here that we will try for next year – thanks.


    Yorkshire, ex Italy and North East coast. Growing too old for it!
  • Sam 37Sam 37 Posts: 1,271
    diggersjo said:

    We plant hardneck garlic in November...


    So do we and those are always far larger and juicier than the softnecks we plant in March.  

    "Hardneck garlic:

    Typically planted in the autumn for harvest end of June-July.  Hardnecks are hardier when growing and stronger in flavour.

    Ready to lift when the lower leaves start to change colour from green to yellow/ brown. End of May - end July depending on variety.

    Softneck garlic:

    Produces smaller, tightly packed cloves. Stores for longer – if planted in autumn it will keep well into the following winter, if planted in spring it will keep until the middle of the following spring."

    diggersjo said:

    Some really good tips on here that we will try for next year – thanks.


    Yes.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I don't think it stores much longer, though I have never grown it. The hardneck I grow (no idea on the variety) keeps from July harvest through until May. Which is about the time the next batch are large enough to use as fresh garlic, so I never have to buy garlic, it's nearly the easiest thing to be self sufficient in in my opinion, since to store it all I do is throw it in a back room. It gets a draw with winter squash which also keeps nearly all year and needs no special storage.
    Sam 37 said:


    Produces smaller, tightly packed cloves. Stores for longer – if planted in autumn it will keep well into the following winter, if planted in spring it will keep until the middle of the following spring."
  • diggersjodiggersjo Posts: 172
    Split 1st 5-10 bulbs harvested and stripped them down to pure cloves and straight into freezer. Emergency for when I can't get to those in shed and I've run out and to last until next season. Not bought garlic for 4-5 years...
    Yorkshire, ex Italy and North East coast. Growing too old for it!
  • Sam 37Sam 37 Posts: 1,271
    Skandi said:
    I don't think it stores much longer, though I have never grown it. 

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