On Fri, 31 Oct 2008 11:20:00 -0400, Gary Woods
wrote:

The Cook wrote:

I just
used some from Costco. I figure that it is a good as mail order and I
doubt that what the nurseries around here have is actually "local"
garlic.

The Costco stuff is more than likely from China, which grows a lot of
really cheap garlic. Personally, I wouldn't touch it with a 3.05 meter
pole, because of the possibility of soil-borne nasties. But, it's probably
better than planting nothing.
Half the fun of this is networking with other like-minded loonies;
preferably fairly local (though the Net has greatly expanded "local").


The garlic from Costco is Gilroy. It specifically states on the bag
that it is "California Grown." Costco says that they verify the
sources of the foods at least annually.

On Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:28:29 -0400, Gary Woods
wrote:

kate wrote:

Guess I'm boring. I went to Whole Foods and planted whatever the organic
garlic they have is.

That works fine, but you have to hope it is a type suited to your local
conditions. At least, use your own best bulbs for planting stock in the
future, since garlic adapts.

Also, if it came from a store it's almost assuredly a softneck,
right?

Not boring but, IMO A clove of store bought softneck compared to a
locally adapted hardneck is kind of the same difference between a hot
house tomato versus an heirloom from your garden.

They may belong to the same family, but one is grown for convenience
of the grower and the practicality of bringing to market, while the
other is grown purely for taste.

tom

"Gary Woods" wrote in message
...
kate wrote:

Guess I'm boring. I went to Whole Foods and planted whatever the organic
garlic they have is.

That works fine, but you have to hope it is a type suited to your local
conditions. At least, use your own best bulbs for planting stock in the
future, since garlic adapts.

A mate of mine has grown garlic for years and, as he termed it, slowly
developed garlic suited to his micro climate. I am in my third crop of
garlic and hoping over the years the crop will get better and better as I
harvest and replant the very best stock.

rob

Gary Woods wrote:

kate wrote:


Guess I'm boring. I went to Whole Foods and planted whatever the organic
garlic they have is.


That works fine, but you have to hope it is a type suited to your local
conditions. At least, use your own best bulbs for planting stock in the
future, since garlic adapts.

Good point. I guess I've been lucky in the past.

JustTom wrote:

On Fri, 31 Oct 2008 10:28:29 -0400, Gary Woods
wrote:


kate wrote:


Guess I'm boring. I went to Whole Foods and planted whatever the organic
garlic they have is.

That works fine, but you have to hope it is a type suited to your local
conditions. At least, use your own best bulbs for planting stock in the
future, since garlic adapts.


Also, if it came from a store it's almost assuredly a softneck,
right?

Not boring but, IMO A clove of store bought softneck compared to a
locally adapted hardneck is kind of the same difference between a hot
house tomato versus an heirloom from your garden.

They may belong to the same family, but one is grown for convenience
of the grower and the practicality of bringing to market, while the
other is grown purely for taste.

Another good point. I've never grown hardneck. Any ideas where I would
find local to Mid TN hardneck garlic?

On Oct 16, 6:35 am, (JustTom) wrote:
Well, Columbus day marks the traditional hardneck planting time here
in the eastern US which means of course that I haven't done it yet.

Got the bed prepared though, and will crack them and stick them in on
Saturday.

I decided to expand and try a few new ones this year.

I've got German Red, Music Pink, Chesnok Red, Persian Star,
Romanian Red, Spanish Roja, Red Rezan, Siberian, and Russian Red.

Anyone else?

I planted some Kettle River Giant garlic yesterday. The soil was
pretty good but I still mixed in a few inches of mushroom compost. It
was a warm sunny day here in Western NC - perfect to be out there
doing some late season planting and garden clean up.


Regards,
June

June wrote:

I planted some Kettle River Giant garlic yesterday. The soil was
pretty good but I still mixed in a few inches of mushroom compost.

Please post how it does for you next summer. I grow it, but between my
indifferent care, and a climate a good deal colder than the Pacific
Northwest, it's not a great performer for me. Loicano, a softneck I got
from a friend at the Seed Saver's Exchange meet a few years ago, does
better here. I grow mostly hardnecks.


Gary Woods AKA K2AHC- PGP key on request, or at home.earthlink.net/~garygarlic
Zone 5/6 in upstate New York, 1420' elevation. NY WO G