Q.
Hi, when you buy garlic seed bulbs do you divide the bulbs up or do you plant whole bulb? Thanks, Olive.
A.
This is a great question. When planting garlic, you need to break up each bulb into cloves, it is these cloves which you plant not the whole bulb.
Bury each clove finger depth at least 5cm below the ground (twice as deep as the length of the clove). Shallow planting will cause problems as when the plants grow the roots can’t support the weight of the heavy leaves and fall over. Hence always plant deep!
For garlic planted in garden beds feed every four weeks during key growth periods with Tui Vegetable Food - a rich formulation of fertilisers including dolomite, blood and bone and sheep manure dust designed to encourage healthy vegetable growth. If planting in pots and containers use an all purpose variety, such as Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser.
Post a comment
Do you need to break garlic bulbs up before planting? Comments
I was told when planting garlic using cloves to peal off the skin is this okay what affect will it have on growing garlic.
Steven Robinson
Hi Steven, you don't have to peel the cloves at planting time. Once in the soil, it slowly dissolves away as the bulb begins to grow. It actually protects the clove initially. Good luck with your garlic crop, a side dressing of bulb fertiliser will give it a boost. All the best,Tui Team
jenna