On Jun 15, 7:39*pm, "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.

****That's what you also advocate for planting new roses; I still have
the printout from your rose regimen.

I will try this next time I plant cloves between roses.

Note that below post from Brooklyn 1 (tanks, pal) includes the
following passage:

"Garlic grows well with many other plants and help protect them from
fungus and pests. Scientists at Newcastle University have shown that a
barrier of garlic oil is an effective slug and snail repellent. There
is also evidence that garlic can help protect people against mosquito
bites."

Knock on wood, I haven't had problems with slug and snail lately. Few
years ago, I had occasion to deal with them; I used THAT'S IT! rather
than the usual Sluggo, etc.; works much better.

TIA

HB