Garlic variety

Deub

Hi All,

I will plant garlic for the first time this year. What variety are you using? (I am based in the south if that changes anything).

I assuming it is mainly hardneck varieties but I read some softneck varieties can be grown as well.

Any tips not to mess up the planting?

Thanks!

Bill Hook

I've grown Messidor and Morado for the last few years, one is a hardneck and one is a softneck but I can never remember which. I got the original seed/cloves from FruitHillFarm and have been using my own saved bulbs ever since. I follow Charles Dowding's timings and methods for planting and all went well until this year when I had very bad garlic rust for the first time. Not sure what to do this year, maybe buy new seed but I don't know if that will help.

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122557381#Comment_122557381

Thanks. I ll check Charles Dowding method. For rust, I read, you can spray copper on the leaves to control it.

Messidor Is a softneck. Apparently, hardneck don’t store as well. What is your experience?

Bill Hook

I think that the Messidor is better, it has much bigger bulbs and they remain nice and tight in the ground until harvested, the Morado bulbs tend to split up while the cloves are still tiny which makes them useless for storing. The good Morado bulbs keep as well as the Messidor, there are just far fewer of them.

Deub

Good to know Messidor is better. I ll check other varieties because I don’t know what I ll find in stores. Hopefully, it is a one off purchase.

Igotadose

Been growing "Provence," a nice large variety in my soggy clay-ey West Kerry Soil for the last few years. Never a problem with pests or whatever, just grows and grows, nice large buds. Plant it in November, mulch with lawn clippings, keep it weeded and harvest in July. I remember getting my first buds from Fruithill probably 5 years ago, just saved some for seed and have never re-stocked with it, which is unfortunate since it seems Fruithill doesn't sell it anymore.

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122564037#Comment_122564037

Thanks! Interesting it thrives with your soil. That’s my main fear: soil being too wet.

Turbulent Bill

Of all veg, I find garlic is the most bombproof. The only minor disadvantage is the long growing season (if you're space-constrained), but it's balanced by its pest repelling qualities.

If you're worried about your soil, throw a few different varieties in and see how they go.

Igotadose

I've even grown random cloves from Lidl, just leftovers. They were fine, albeit smallish

magicbastarder

Also see if you can get elephant garlic cloves. They're as easy to grow as garlic, and the cloves are huge, but milder. Almost the texture of roast potato when you roast them.

Deub

Thank you both and good points, I ll try several varieties for both hard and softnecl and see. I also read some people with wet soil start them in modules and plant them in Feb/Mar

Deub

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122565731#Comment_122565731

It seems seeds are not cheap for this one. Do you know supermarkets that sell them?

magicbastarder

I've never seen them in a supermarket. Can't remember where we got it, but wouldn't be surprised if it was Mr Middleton. They won't have it in stock as cloves now anyway

Igotadose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122565731#Comment_122565731

Personally, I think Elephant Garlic's an onion with a good publicist.

magicbastarder

It's a different texture but definitely has a garlic taste, but as mentioned, it's mild.

Looks cool though!

Bill Hook

You might get Elephant Garlic from Gardensforlife.ie.

magicbastarder

Good spot - they have it in stock, 8 quid for 5 cloves

https://gardensforlife.ie/product/elephant-garlic/

Oscar_Madison

Second year planting garlic - can’t remember variety so need to go check- disappointed with overall bulb sizes though- yes a number were typical size but some very very small - and I tried using only the biggest cloves each time - maybe 50% average and 50% small

What i did so this year is grow summer garlic- again mixed results but was great planting May and harvesting August 😀

magicbastarder

This wasn't a good year for us - mainly because the house was being rewired in November last year, when we'd be thinking about planting, and we had to move out. And then with all the follow on stuff (redecorating) we got what we had left into the ground exceptionally late - might have been march by then.

scarepanda

I got some cloves of elephant garlic from thegardenshop.ie a couple years ago. Used my own saved cloves last year and plan to do the same again this year. They are fecking delicious! We use them in pasta dishes instead of garlic, especially if it's a quick dish to make.

I'll have a look tomorrow at the regular garlic i grew this year. I have had rust for the last couple years on regular garlic, but didn't this year. I'm pretty certain I picked up one hard and one soft neck in woodies last year.