Comments on: Small garlic bulbs? http://intheloop.groworganic.com/2009/07/small-garlic-bulbs/ Timely organic farm and garden info from GrowOrganic.com Wed, 17 Mar 2010 19:34:32 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Susan http://intheloop.groworganic.com/2009/07/small-garlic-bulbs/comment-page-1/#comment-1727 Susan Fri, 07 Aug 2009 05:15:41 +0000 http://intheloop.groworganic.com/?p=924#comment-1727 At Grey Duck Garlic we experiment with different organic garlic growing methods to see which one will produce the biggest and tastiest garlic bulbs. Here are some things that I have found that work: 1) Use varieties that are suited for your climate. Garlic can be specific or adapted to a certain area. 2) Plant in the fall, not the spring. We plant in October. 3) How large were your large cloves? In our experiments a 12-15 gram clove produces the largest bulbs. Bulbs from these large cloves can be over 3 times larger than an 8 g clove. 4) Put lots of organic matter in the soil. Our biggest garlic grows in the soil heavily supplemented with organic matter. 5) Choose a variety that grows big bulbs such as Georgian Crystal or Siberian. There is a lot of size difference between garlic varieties. Some garlic is naturally small. 6) Buy good seed garlic so you know you are getting quality stock. By the way, watering can be important but we have totally dryland garlic (no irrigation) and have no problem with growing large bulbs. Good luck next year with growing big garlic, Susan At Grey Duck Garlic we experiment with different organic garlic growing methods to see which one will produce the biggest and tastiest garlic bulbs. Here are some things that I have found that work: 1) Use varieties that are suited for your climate. Garlic can be specific or adapted to a certain area. 2) Plant in the fall, not the spring. We plant in October. 3) How large were your large cloves? In our experiments a 12-15 gram clove produces the largest bulbs. Bulbs from these large cloves can be over 3 times larger than an 8 g clove. 4) Put lots of organic matter in the soil. Our biggest garlic grows in the soil heavily supplemented with organic matter. 5) Choose a variety that grows big bulbs such as Georgian Crystal or Siberian. There is a lot of size difference between garlic varieties. Some garlic is naturally small. 6) Buy good seed garlic so you know you are getting quality stock.

By the way, watering can be important but we have totally dryland garlic (no irrigation) and have no problem with growing large bulbs.

Good luck next year with growing big garlic, Susan

]]> By: Matt http://intheloop.groworganic.com/2009/07/small-garlic-bulbs/comment-page-1/#comment-1538 Matt Fri, 17 Jul 2009 13:11:52 +0000 http://intheloop.groworganic.com/?p=924#comment-1538 Make sure you trim the scape when it gets a small bulb at the top. Don't forget to eat the scape - they're delicious!! Trimming the scape off is like trimming suckers from a tomato plant - it triggers the plant to start putting its energy in to the place it can reproduce from (in this case, the garlic bulb) Make sure you trim the scape when it gets a small bulb at the top. Don’t forget to eat the scape – they’re delicious!!

Trimming the scape off is like trimming suckers from a tomato plant – it triggers the plant to start putting its energy in to the place it can reproduce from (in this case, the garlic bulb)

]]> By: greg http://intheloop.groworganic.com/2009/07/small-garlic-bulbs/comment-page-1/#comment-1524 greg Thu, 16 Jul 2009 23:57:03 +0000 http://intheloop.groworganic.com/?p=924#comment-1524 Make sure you have good soil fertility. lots of organic matter and watering must be consistent when there is no precipitation. Make sure you have good soil fertility. lots of organic matter and watering must be consistent when there is no precipitation.

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