Garlic

[Home Farm]

I was thinking of doing a small garlic patch - probably around 10x10m.

Does anyone here have experience growing garlic - we're based in the west midlands with clay, alkaline soil.

Would be interested to get an idea of what garlic grows best and if anyone can suggest gourmet type varieties that would allow us to sell them to restaurants in the area.

 

[Suffolk boy]

It might be worth looking at or speaking to the Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight https://www.thegarlicfarm.co.uk/

I've grown it in the garden before, easy enough but I wasn't trying to make it at all commercial.

 

[Bogweevil]

The Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight sell particularly good cultivars - ideal for planting such a small area. Green garlic gathered before the bulbs ripen is a potential niche product for local chefs. Dry bulbs compete head on with imported ones. Chefs might be able to advise the garlics they hanker after of course.

Garlic Farm irrigate to get bulb size up - but the IOW is quite dry and rent land that has never grown alliums to avoid white rot.

A heavy loam would be fine, but if it lies wet in winter planting on ridges might be required.

It is not worth bothering with herbicides on such as small area - I would grow through black plastic - the biodegradable sort is good.

They are right little bleeders for rust but on label fungicide options available.

 

[Home Farm]

We contact the Garlic Farm and they weren't hugely helpful or enthusiastic to help us... and they're expensive.

I've since found suppliers of 'gourmet' garlic at far better starting prices.

Given the small plot, I think I'll weed by hand to produce a crop that is as 'green' as possible. I think I'll prepare the site next week.

Would you suggest mixing compost through the clay soil?

 

[Bogweevil]

We contact the Garlic Farm and they weren't hugely helpful or enthusiastic to help us... and they're expensive.

I've since found suppliers of 'gourmet' garlic at far better starting prices.

Given the small plot, I think I'll weed by hand to produce a crop that is as 'green' as possible. I think I'll prepare the site next week.

Would you suggest mixing compost through the clay soil?

Yes, compost or rotted manure would be helpful.

 

[Home Farm]

Thanks. Will get to work on this next week.