Comments on: Experimenting with garlic in containers http://fuggles.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/experimenting-with-garlic-in-containers/ Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:17:00 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: MissFuggles http://fuggles.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/experimenting-with-garlic-in-containers/#comment-28 MissFuggles Tue, 08 Apr 2008 18:31:55 +0000 http://fuggles.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-28 Thanks very much for that Patrick - something I had not heard of before, and we have quite a few in different pots so I can try a belated experiment. We actually garden on about six inches of soil on top of solid* chalk so finding some lime shouldn't be a problem. Regarding the nitrogen/rust, we don't add a lot apart from garden compost and some small amounts of fertiliser - this year's main garlic patch is on last year's squash bed so it should be quite rich but have had time to settle in. I'll bear it in mind though - thanks again! The main change I want to make this year is to water and mulch at the right time - I've just finished reading Mandy Pullen's Valuable Vegetables and this was something she recommended. *really, solid, white-cliffs-of-Dover-with-fossils solid chalk! Thanks very much for that Patrick – something I had not heard of before, and we have quite a few in different pots so I can try a belated experiment. We actually garden on about six inches of soil on top of solid* chalk so finding some lime shouldn’t be a problem.

Regarding the nitrogen/rust, we don’t add a lot apart from garden compost and some small amounts of fertiliser – this year’s main garlic patch is on last year’s squash bed so it should be quite rich but have had time to settle in. I’ll bear it in mind though – thanks again!

The main change I want to make this year is to water and mulch at the right time – I’ve just finished reading Mandy Pullen’s Valuable Vegetables and this was something she recommended.

*really, solid, white-cliffs-of-Dover-with-fossils solid chalk!

]]> By: Patrick http://fuggles.wordpress.com/2008/03/19/experimenting-with-garlic-in-containers/#comment-22 Patrick Sun, 06 Apr 2008 12:17:58 +0000 http://fuggles.wordpress.com/?p=14#comment-22 A common problem with growing garlic in containers is standard potting soil or compost is usually a little too acidic for garlic which prefers something a little more alkaline. Adding a little lime when you plant them can help. Otherwise containers should work fine. Also, rust seems to be closely related to the use of fresh manure or other high nitrogen fertilizer. If you have problems with garlic rust and you add nitrogen to your garden, you might try adding less or none at all. Too much nitrogen can stress garlic as well as a number of other plants. A common problem with growing garlic in containers is standard potting soil or compost is usually a little too acidic for garlic which prefers something a little more alkaline. Adding a little lime when you plant them can help. Otherwise containers should work fine.

Also, rust seems to be closely related to the use of fresh manure or other high nitrogen fertilizer. If you have problems with garlic rust and you add nitrogen to your garden, you might try adding less or none at all. Too much nitrogen can stress garlic as well as a number of other plants.

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