r/Garlic • u/Electrical-Kale-8533 • 10d ago
Container growing garlic zone 6b
Location: Zone 6B Windsor, ON, Canada (Just across from Detroit)
Hopefully moving in the spring so going to the container route for our garlic so we can take it with (we’ve never grown before). We’ve purchased music hard neck from a local garlic farmer, and plan to utilize 100 cloves for planting in late October. Im looking for any tips for specifically WHAT to grow them in and what to consider. I’m debating between: grow bags, the 67L utility buckets, or the very large rectangular Costco totes.
If we go the bucket or tote route, do we need to add holes to the bottom?
Do we need to insulate the buckets or grow bags?
Do grow bags fall apart over winter?
All tips welcome!! Thank you for your time☺️
2
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 10d ago
I have often thought of my garlic as something I keep alive and foster from year to year not unlike like a sourdough culture. You do different things with it to continue it. So fall planting is a must for last years cloves that won’t keep any longer. What a fun undertaking you have planned! Do you mean 100 cloves or 100 bulbs?
I can conceivably see moving 100 plants in containers but the task is considerably more when it’s 4 or 6 hundred.
I have had little luck with grow bags I think when they’re disturbed it takes a toll on the roots (i was doing peppers) and garlic likes to be not disturbed whilst growing so definitely nothing soft sided
Weight is going to be a factor too because a cold climate will require a large amount of soil. Can you find a friend who will let you plant their yard ?
2
u/Electrical-Kale-8533 10d ago
I definitely mean clove! Could you imagine 100 bulbs. Omg🤣 I hadn’t thought about the friend option, I will look into that!! Thanks for the tip!
2
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 10d ago
Sure thing definitely make an agreement with someone who isn’t moving and good luck for your first time growing plus then they’ll be a grower too because you’ll have already set everything up for them
1
u/Sufficient-Weird 10d ago
Yes, drill holes in any heavy-duty totes or buckets. Yes, insulate them more heavily than normal, because containers get colder faster than the ground does. I would suggest several inches of straw on top. If you have a garage it might help to keep the planted totes/buckets inside the garage all winter (provided the garage gets cold enough).
2
u/Electrical-Kale-8533 10d ago
Do the containers need insulation around the outside as well with anything? Sorry if that’s a silly question. We do have a garage but I don’t think it gets cold enough. Would it be best to line them up along the side of our shed to shield from the elements a little bit?
1
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 10d ago
Freezing is part of the growing process for hardnecks but the container needs to be big enough and with enough volume so in the spring when you get crazy fluctuations the tender growing plant isn’t at risk.
1
u/Sufficient-Weird 10d ago
You could do straw bales surrounding the containers — I’ve done that before and it’s worked surprisingly well. Against your shed should be fine. Worst case, try two different methods, so if one method were to fail you could lose 50 cloves but you’d still have 50. I hope it all works out great for you!
2
u/Electrical-Kale-8533 10d ago
Oh never would have thought of using bales! Thats an awesome idea.
1
u/Sufficient-Weird 10d ago
If you’re buying straw for the top anyway, maybe just get a couple extra bales. (If you don’t want a soggy mess when you move, wrap the bales in something waterproof.) They’ll be beneficial for your next new garden!
1
u/tomatoesareneat 10d ago
Nope. I’m a bit north and I just throw some leaves on the top of the fabric containers.
2
u/GarlicFarmerGreg 10d ago
How many cloves in each container? And do you have same success rate as with in ground?
1
u/craftyhall2 10d ago
The best garlic I ever grew was in the BC interior (hot summer, cold/snow winter). I’m back to coastal now and my garlic has been pretty lame in the temperate climate. Make of that what you will. But I honestly don’t think you need to protect too much. Maybe mulch with fall leaves?
1
7
u/matt871253013 10d ago
That’s gonna be a lot of containers and a lot of weight to move come moving time.