Planting garlic and onions - Claire's allotment part 69

[createrainbowz]

well i was going to plant direct to soil, this method looks more nurturing, will try thanks.

[clairesallotment]

Giving them a head start before you put them in I fine is much better, and you get far more of a crop and bigger too.

[cadge123]

hi claire  i have some spare onion sets left over from this season ,do i throw them away or will they do for next year .

[clairesallotment]

They'll be soft next year. If you can get them in a pot now that would be great. When the weather gets too cold, then continue growing in the greenhouse. They won't grow that big, but it's better than throwing them away.

[socratesx11]

(ran out of room) So thanks for the tip on the toilet rolls. That made transplanting less traumatic for the garlic and nice to get the early start. Outdoors is still chilly and the ground temps in the 30s. We had a touch of 50 degree temps here yesterday, but that was short lived. Woke up to a dusting of snow on the ground.

- John

[clairesallotment]

It's April the snow should be finished. Saying that last year 6th April we had about 6inch snow. Only lasted a few days, but that's unheard of.

[socratesx11]

I spent a bit of time this morning (April 1st) transplanting my toilet-roll garlic to larger accommodations as their roots were sprawling out from under the rolls and all over the seed tray.

Its tool cold here still for any outdoor planting, so they are spread across two earth boxes and will be sharing space with tomato plants.

They are 8"-12" and very vigorous. I'm glad I got these in for an jump start. The next batch (and onions) will be living in the strawberry bed with the next week.

[clairesallotment]

I'm sure they'll be quite happy to share space with other plants.

[fezuk2001]

I find if you plant Garlic in Sept or Oct, by the time it comes to harvest the bulbs are nice and big ...

[clairesallotment]

I did that one year and they were great. I usually get spring planting garlic, may well try autumn planting this year.

[hoverboverer]

I think I might have planted my onions and garlic too close (10cm apart, equilateral triangular spacing). Both seem to be doing well (esp. the garlic, planted directly in early Feb). A friend of mine says she never gets garlic to grow properly - lots of leaf but ending up with just a slightly larger clove than she started with! Should you feed them with anything to promote 'bulb over foliage'?

[clairesallotment]

Onions and garlic are fine if planted 4 inches (10cm) apart, the onions may not come out as big, but they'll be fine. I never feed my garlic, just water well and don't let them dry out.

[tenneral]

Great guidance. My own onions are now in and they seem to be doing well, all with healthy root strands as you recommended earlier.

[clairesallotment]

Watch the birds, they like to have a pick at them. We've got lots of crows by us. At the moment I'm using CD's to scare them off. Need to build my self a scare crow.

[mukwah1111]

Hi Claire Just watched your garlic/onion planting video from 08 & it looked cool & damp that day. This yr looks much warmer for you & yay the sun ! We plant garlic in the fall here & it is harvest in summer. I can only imagine how happy you are to get into the garden. Best of luck with it. cheers !

[clairesallotment]

The warm weather only lasted a few days this week has been very showery and much colder. I want the sun to come back again soon!! We have autumn and spring planting garlic. I usually do the spring. I'll be out in the garden or allotment in most weathers except very strong wind and thunder.

[bigeeezy]

Food of the gods :)