Hello everyone,

can anyone tell me if I need to protect my Garlic from the imminent frosts as it is sprouting already!

I put a little hay over it when it started to show but some of it is now 4 inches or more and I would hate an 'incedent' when it is so keen to get going.

Thanks
Darren

Hi Darren
No you dont have to protect your garlic like overwintering onions it is hardy and is said to benefit from colder temperature.

Thanks Paul,

I was getting a little worried when I saw the forecast this morning, I'll just have to find somthing else to worry about now.

Darren

Tough as the old preverbial Darren. They need the cold to help getthem to divide into the individual cloved otherwise you end up with a garlic scented onion !!

is that such a bad thing?

Originally Posted by Marge

is that such a bad thing?

Not a bad thing but not very efficient!

I would rather have fifteen cloves from each one planted, would you not?

You can buy elephant garlic if you want large cloves. They are supposed to be very tasty roasted!

If you do end up with a garlic bulb that has not divided the best thing to do is put it to one side and plant it again next year,

I thought perhaps having a garlic flavoured onion might be just as useful as a normal onion, but with added flavour.

Still I suppose single cloves are best for cooking.

I have perverse pigeons, they have pecked the tops off at least 3 of my plants and they are really strong scented garlic. Can pigeons smell at all..?

Originally Posted by seasprout

I have perverse pigeons, they have pecked the tops off at least 3 of my plants and they are really strong scented garlic. Can pigeons smell at all..?

Not if you shoot them, but they do tase nice with a red wine sauce

Hello Seasprout, yes scientific research suggests that pigeons can smell, and that olfactory cues do play a part in their homing abilities. I'm not suggesting they smell your garlic, BUT if their sense of smell is part of their ability to get home, then who knows what they think aout garlic. Would love to put a link on for the relevant research but don't know how to do it. Must get back to SBP on that one.

Highlight and copy the address from the top bar (ctrl+C) then just past it in to the message (ctrl+V)

I have put in several sorts of Garlic this time to give me a constant supply through the year, but I am looking forward mostly to the elephant garlic.

The cloves that I planted were about 3 inches long by 1 1/4 width, I had planned to leave one of them to flower and use the other two for culinary, but I am so tempted to just eat them all.

I will let youknow how we do.
Darren

Hi

does anyone have any Brish garlic they can sell me, to plant, I have bought some garlic from sainsbury which is about 6 inches high in the polytunnel but have read that british is better.

thanks
marion

Originally Posted by dwrudd

I have put in several sorts of Garlic this time to give me a constant supply through the year, but I am looking forward mostly to the elephant garlic.

The cloves that I planted were about 3 inches long by 1 1/4 width, I had planned to leave one of them to flower and use the other two for culinary, but I am so tempted to just eat them all.

I will let youknow how we do.
Darren

From what i have read the Elephant garlic is not a true garlic but more closely related to the leek! If so, i would imagine it won't be as strong in taste as normal garlic.?

I would have tried some myself but I seem to remember it was quite expensive to buy.