I have grown NZ supermarket garlic but I think a better option to get some from the organic shop at Taste Nature in High St. They are around about opposite to the Casino. This way you can be sure your seed garlic isn't treated with any anti sprouting chemicals or fungicides. I got some Elephant garlic there to grow a while ago which was enormous! And also some shallots because supermarket ones sat in the ground last year for ages and just refused to grow, probably for the reasons outlined above. Good luck growing garlic - I don't think its too late to put in, although the tradition is to plant it on the shortest day.
Take a look at Nick"s garlic growing in the bathtub in the other forum. Fantastic looking soil and healthy plants. What a great idea.
In my opinion, 'seed garlic' from the garden centre is a bit of a rip off... usually running around $8 for 4 heads of average quality garlic. You're better off to try a selection of different garlics from around the place (organic store, farmers market, friends, seed savers groups etc)... this year I'm growing 6 different strans of garlic that I've sourced from various places over the years. This includes 2 varieties that I've been growing and saving some of for a few years, and 4 others that I've sourced this year and will give it a go... if any of them are really good, I'll save some of those ones for planting next year. Ones with average or poor results will be used up in the kitchen.
As for plantability...I'd say that any NZ garlic should have a good chance of growing. Chinese stuff is a bit dodgy and may have chemicals added to aid in preservation or to stop growth of shoots. Stick to NZ sourced and you should be fine. And swapping garlic with your friends in the autumn is a great past time and a good way to spread different varieties. I might arrange a garlic swap through Otepoti Urban Organics next year!
The best place to buy garlic if from a garlic grower like nathan from Tree Hugger Organic RD1 Main South Rd Timarau/ Waimate. he has quite a few varieties which are full of flavour.
but if you are after big garlic its is all about the soil and the timing of planting also selecting just the large cloves to plant is A1 impotant!
Tried from from the funky pumpkin and they just didn't germinate nz garlic and all grr
Yes I agree that Tree Hugger Garlic is great, he grows a few different kinds,.... and seem to grow on his site really well (seaward side of state highway 1 south of Timaru, St Andrews, and also in my garden here in Timaru. We are moving to Dunedin shortly, and I hope to see if it does as well in the south. :-)
Garlic
Hi Tanya,
I have grown NZ supermarket garlic but I think a better option to get some from the organic shop at Taste Nature in High St. They are around about opposite to the Casino. This way you can be sure your seed garlic isn't treated with any anti sprouting chemicals or fungicides. I got some Elephant garlic there to grow a while ago which was enormous! And also some shallots because supermarket ones sat in the ground last year for ages and just refused to grow, probably for the reasons outlined above. Good luck growing garlic - I don't think its too late to put in, although the tradition is to plant it on the shortest day.
Take a look at Nick"s garlic growing in the bathtub in the other forum. Fantastic looking soil and healthy plants. What a great idea.
Cheers
Carol
Garlic
Thanks Carol,
I grew some seed garlic from the garden centre last year and the garlic that grew was quite small. Will give the organic garlic a go.
Cheers,
Tanya
Seed Garlic
In my opinion, 'seed garlic' from the garden centre is a bit of a rip off... usually running around $8 for 4 heads of average quality garlic. You're better off to try a selection of different garlics from around the place (organic store, farmers market, friends, seed savers groups etc)... this year I'm growing 6 different strans of garlic that I've sourced from various places over the years. This includes 2 varieties that I've been growing and saving some of for a few years, and 4 others that I've sourced this year and will give it a go... if any of them are really good, I'll save some of those ones for planting next year. Ones with average or poor results will be used up in the kitchen.
As for plantability...I'd say that any NZ garlic should have a good chance of growing. Chinese stuff is a bit dodgy and may have chemicals added to aid in preservation or to stop growth of shoots. Stick to NZ sourced and you should be fine. And swapping garlic with your friends in the autumn is a great past time and a good way to spread different varieties. I might arrange a garlic swap through Otepoti Urban Organics next year!
Tree hugger organic garlic
The best place to buy garlic if from a garlic grower like nathan from Tree Hugger Organic RD1 Main South Rd Timarau/ Waimate. he has quite a few varieties which are full of flavour.
but if you are after big garlic its is all about the soil and the timing of planting also selecting just the large cloves to plant is A1 impotant!
Tried from from the funky pumpkin and they just didn't germinate nz garlic and all grr
Garlic
Yes I agree that Tree Hugger Garlic is great, he grows a few different kinds,.... and seem to grow on his site really well (seaward side of state highway 1 south of Timaru, St Andrews, and also in my garden here in Timaru. We are moving to Dunedin shortly, and I hope to see if it does as well in the south. :-)