Feeling sheepish...

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Loofah, Oct 2, 2010.

  1. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Oh baaaaaa....

    Well recently I posted that nowhere seems to be selling garlic to grow this year and I bemoaned the fact that I couldn't get it. I've also, in the past, had a fairly dour outlook on most DIY places (B&Q, homebase et al)... So imagine my surprise that when looking for some basic rubble sacks in Focus I fairly tripped over their stand of 'grow yer own' pieces and there was a lovely array of garlic! £2.49 for two un-named bulbs which is better than my local nurseries, plant suppliers, garden centres etc could provide!

    Hats off to Focus for selling garlic. Still say they're **** in general however as they didn't have the sacks lol
     
  2. daitheplant

    daitheplant Total Gardener

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    You can`t have it all ways Loofah, do you want garlic or rubble sacks? :hehe::hehe::thumb:
     
  3. Alice

    Alice Gardener

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    And what's different about that garlic from the stuff that's in the supermarket :cnfs:
     
  4. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    Its not sprayed with growth inhibitors so should grow properly at least...
     
  5. Jazmine

    Jazmine happy laydee

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    I would be interested to hear how you get on ( we haven't got a Focus here now) as I bought some from Homebase and they were soft and rotten so I couldn't use them.
    My son is mad on garlic and I hate it.
     
  6. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Hi Loofah,

    Well thats a good result at last, just in time to go in too. :thumb:
     
  7. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    Thats a question I often have to ask myself Dai.:help:
     
  8. JWK

    JWK Gardener Staff Member

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    Wish I had read this yesterday. I went into Homebase in my lunch break today looking specifically for garlic, they looked OK but it was £3.99 for one bulb - Solent Wight variety. A bit too expensive for me, I'll probably end up paying even more in the long run on petrol trying to hunt down a bargain.
     
  9. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    At least its Solent Wight, Soylent Green is people.

    [nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Sp-VFBbjpE"]YouTube - IT'S PEOPLE![/nomedia]
     
  10. Fidgetsmum

    Fidgetsmum Total Gardener

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    Oh lawks - I didn't realise you had to buy 'special' garlic, I just plant the stuff I get in the supermarket - less than a quid for 4 bulbs.
     
  11. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    You might be ok Fidgetsmum, worse that could happen would be small blubs. Dip em in fungicide first to protect against onion whiterot.
     
  12. terrier

    terrier Gardener

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    I've only ever planted soft neck supermarket garlic, I plant the cloves in pots in the cold greenhouse (so they don't get too wet) 1st week in November, most of them take root and sprout, then I plant them out. I've never had any fail because of growth inhibitor and they're a good size when I harvest them.
     
  13. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    We always use supermarket garlic. Never any problems with them growing but they do tend to be smaller than the varieties sold for growing. Ours have been in the ground for a few weeks already. :thumb:
     
  14. Blueroses

    Blueroses Gardener

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    I used supermarket garlic this year, which grew no problem but the bulbs were rather small which I presume was the growth inhibiter they use. Last week I went to Melbicks garden centre near me and bought a pack with 3 large bulbs of 'Marco' for £2.49. 2 bulbs have been split and are now in the ground, the other one I shall plant in the greenhouse, then I can see which method works the best for future years.
     
  15. Loofah

    Loofah Admin Staff Member

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    I've combined the two methods now - lasts years disappointingly small bulbs (the result of supermarket planted bulbs) and my new ones from Focus. I wonder which ones will be best?!
     
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