On Fri, 15 Jun 2012 19:39:02 -0700, "David E. Ross"
wrote:

On 6/15/12 4:43 PM, Higgs Boson wrote:
On Jun 15, 3:44 pm, "David Hare-Scott" wrote:
Higgs Boson wrote:
I usually plant cloves of garlic between roses to discourage pests;
seems to work pretty well.

However, when the foliage dries out and droops and I dig up the
garlic, it's never a full head with cloves. Just one Tiny.

What am I doing wrong?

Or is this the way it's supposed to be?

HB

To grow big heads of garlic you need to start with a big clove as the "seed"
and then feed it moderately without too much competition.

How long is it in the ground before you pick it?

D

***Duh... haven't kept good track, but it could be 6 mo (?) because
ISTR planting the cloves about the time I prune, which is 3rd week in
January.

Didn't realize size of clove governed side of head! Why is that?
Incidentally, ISTR that cloves were reasonable size.

Feeding, I didn't. Mea culpa? All I did in that bed of roses
was feed *them* as they started to leaf out again. I'd have thought
some of the fertilizer went to the clove of garlic? What was I
supposed to feed it?

HB

r


Roses like a lot of nitrogen, which does not help garlic produce large
bulbs. Both like phosphorus. For phosphorus to work, however, it must
be placed where roots will find it since it does not disolve easily.
Thus, you should dig bone meal or superphosphate into the bottom of the
planting hole before planting garlic. Cover that fertilizer with a
little unfertilized soil and then plant the garlic.


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