Garlic Fertilizer?

[Mulligan Man]

Urea or AMS?

Or a balanced NPK?

[Longtail]

I side dress with urea about 1st week of April. It gets a shot of liquid fertilizer(growers mineral solution) every monday. Depending upon how much I have to spare, it also gets a dressing of compost. before planting manure gets tilled into the soil. I sometimes dress with bone meal as well.

[VA Gardener]

I use compost and liquid fish/seaweed.

[neoguy]

The winter has been very mild this year, I've been soil drenching with liquid seaweed every 2 weeks since February 1st.

Don't fertilize after Mother's Day, over ferting at that time can stunt the size of your garlic head.

[springfever]

ok , this might sound silly, but I've never raised garlic. I have a bunch in a big container.
Can I cut the tops to get bigger garlic bulbs?

[LilyoftheValley]

Originally Posted by springfever

ok , this might sound silly, but I've never raised garlic. I have a bunch in a big container.
Can I cut the tops to get bigger garlic bulbs?

No, that won't help.

[Longtail]

the larger the top, the larger the bottom. Some growers think scape removal will increase bulb size, I dispute that idea. My tests show such a small difference its not worth the trouble. I do snap the tops tho because we use them in the kitchen and sell them at market.

[bhpigeon2]

Originally Posted by Longtail

the larger the top, the larger the bottom. Some growers think scape removal will increase bulb size, I dispute that idea. My tests show such a small difference its not worth the trouble. I do snap the tops tho because we use them in the kitchen and sell them at market.

How I wish that I could see more replies like this! Don't know where the thing got started years ago about garlic bulbs suffering if the scapes are left on. When it comes right down the nitty-gritty and actually grown side-by-side, the results all have the claimant saying maybe it ain't so. The facts are that once that scape is formed, there's already enough energy stored just in the stalk to finish maturing the bulbils. Plant begins to form bulb, plant forms scape, plant goes back to business of making a larger bulb. That's how it works and makes no difference if you try to change it.

But, that's not the topic of this thread. I used to use a sprinkling of ammonium sulfate twice in the growing season. First was when the plants were about 3" or so and second when there were about 5 leaves. That was before I had access to horse manure for tilling in before planting. Now I have just given mine one good sprinkling of 6-2-0 Milorganite. They probably don't need it but they were at the 3 and 4 leaf stage where they would most need it.

bhp2

[Virescence]

Originally Posted by Longtail

the larger the top, the larger the bottom. Some growers think scape removal will increase bulb size, I dispute that idea. My tests show such a small difference its not worth the trouble. I do snap the tops tho because we use them in the kitchen and sell them at market.

Amen! Completely agree.

I'm a big fan of garlic greens as well - great on pizza or any recipe calling for green onions as a substitute (also use Allium Tuberosum in this form as well).

This year I seem to be doing well with a nutrient blend I based off of Le Chatelier's formula. It wouldn't be considered "organic" by current standards, thanks much in part to the FeEDTA in it (minute quantities) but I used mined Chilean Nitrate and compounds of that sort that are technically "from the Earth". For reference, the ferts I make are 7-13-28, with a big shot of Ca and Mg. I use it on just about everything with great results. Feeding happens at 0.7 - 1.3 eC, with the heavier feedings in the last half of its growth cycle.

Also, I've had FAR better luck with stiff neck garlic than soft neck. Stiff neck doesn't store as well, but it makes bug, delicious cloves that are easier to access and it tastes better. Yield is much higher for me as well. The best crops I've pulled tend to be about 36" tall and yield bulbs about the size of a softball.

All this talk of garlic makes me hungry. Looks like I will have to make a batch of roasted garlic hummus this afternoon!

[Longtail]

My strain of Inchilium(soft neck) get about a pound. Thats in the green and not all get that big but many do. Their necks ar over 1 inch right now. The hardnecks, Chesnok and a local strain get nice size to them as well. This year they are all looking fine. My soft necks all had scapes last year, every one of em.. They started a couple years ago with just a few then more and now 100%. I have been selecting the largest garlics for about 5 years now, thats when it all started.?? No one has a good reason. But, I dont care cause they are huge and fetch some real good $$$s.