Your comments and tips

01 Jul 11, Cygnetian (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I heard an interesting-sounding garlic-growing tip recently (unfortunately just too late for my plantings this year), which was to *not* firm down the soil/compost (or whatever you plant them in) at all, the idea being that the bulbs will grow bigger that way since they *(& their roots, I guess) aren't tightly packed into the growing medium.

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14 Jul 11, sara drummond (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

I planted some in June but I aim to put some more in. bought the purple argentinean pack from safeways I know it mid July but I will give them a go today and see what happens in Novemver/December I will take your idea on board to keep the soil cover loose ... having fun in the garden sara

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17 May 11, Greg (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted three varieties of garlic about four weeks ago, including the (large) Russian garlic variety. The other two all came up after about two weeks, but not a single sign of the Russian has come up. Does it normally take longer to come up or have I got a dud batch?

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02 Jun 11, Greg (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks all - you were on the money. They've just started to poke their heads up!

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02 Jun 11, pete (Australia - temperate climate)

eh Greg, I had the same deal. the russians are comming through now after six weeks. Seems a week of frosts spurred them on.

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02 Jun 11, James (Australia - sub-tropical climate)

Hi Greg, dont worry about the russian garlic, it will shoot up. Some take a little longer, some come up straight away. Youll find that they really like full sun - if they have shade during the day they will take a little longer to come up. If you have planted the bulbins (little nut like seed) they will probably not show until early spring, cheers

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17 May 11, arthur (Australia - temperate climate)

If you want to grow imported garlic purchased from a super market pick out a nice bulb feel around the cloves near the to top, if there is a slight swelling thats the one you want to buy.Get a small con.that will hold water 5mil deep quarter teaspoon thrive or seasol.leave for about three days.plant out 50mil deep.after 2 weeks my plants are now 80 ml high.

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24 May 11, Phe (Australia - temperate climate)

Thanks, I'm going to try this.

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10 May 11, Adam (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

One other company for great Garlic is garlicworld.com. They are based in Port Campbell in Victoria, Simon and his wife.I got some lovely Californis purple from them. Not sure if they'd have any left now. A couple of years ago, I got some Purple garlic which came from Chile. I really don't like to buy out of area stuff, but I figured it would be a one off, and haven't bought much since, except for the garlicworld stuff. Melanie, the garlic is ready when the top wilts and leans over, as Jen has said. Sometimes, the plant goes into flowering mode, but usually not, usually it just falls over. The stem that falls is the bit you use to tie it up with, so if you let it die too much, you won't get the protective outer skin, or something to plait it with. I tend to wait until it looks a bit ratty, but hasn't died completely, about a week or so after it keels over. Then I dig it up, don't pull it from the stem, I learned that lesson the first year.!! Hope this helps.

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02 May 11, Jen (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Hi melanie, Garlic is usally ready to harvest when the stalks brown off and lean over. If you are desperate for some fresh garlic you can harvest a bulb earlier but must put up with the bulb being smaler.... good luck ..it gets easier with every year

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