Jigfig
Well-known member
Can confirm @TorontoJoe is doing an exceptional job. Have seen exactly 0 vampires. With as much as I like garlic I’m going to have to plant some this year.
Nice surprise in the garden this morning
- Thread starter Figgerlickinggood
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TorontoJoe
Administrator
With how far you are inland you should be able to grow some monster hardnecks. Nice thing too is you can interplant them with other crops..... between fig trees and tomatoes....
I can't remember if there were scapes, but I think there were. I started gardening in (I think) 2023, so I was (and still am) a newbie at the time. I can't find any pics of the garlic, but I do have a photo of the sad plot where it eventually grew. This photo was basically my first attempt ever at a raised bed. Where the garlic eventually went was against that short block wall in the top left of the photo, under a big oak tree. Photo is looking south-southeast.
Jigfig
Well-known member
Oh yea? I’ll for sure look into hardneck varieties that do well here. The bigger the better because I eat tons of garlic.
Jigfig
Well-known member
Don’t be ashamed lol my uh “garden” is just random spots around the yard and corners of the house where I think things will grow or I got the urge to plant them. Landmarks such as tree stumps etc are some of my favorite places too so I can remember I planted something there. Makes probably zero sense to anyone else, but it makes me happy.
I can't remember if there were scapes, but I think there were. I started gardening in (I think) 2023, so I was (and still am) a newbie at the time. I can't find any pics of the garlic, but I do have a photo of the sad plot where it eventually grew. This photo was basically my first attempt ever at a raised bed. Where the garlic eventually went was against that short block wall in the top left of the photo, under a big oak tree. Photo is looking south-southeast
View attachment 20035
Ha. That's awesome. I'm a similar type of gardener. I just put stuff where I can find space for it.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
They sell those blocks in the garden section at Lowes (in the states, at least.) Hard to beat for speed and cost.I like those blocks. never seen that shape before. That would make for some quick and sturdy beds.
Not a single thing about that plot that's sad. Everything looks green and happy!
TorontoJoe
Administrator
IMHO, interplanting and putting things where you can is the exact way it's supposed to be done. For various reasons. Pest management, planting density... the list is long. This planting culture doesn't lend itself well to mass, corporate agriculture... but for people like us, this is the way. I was born into an idealogy that any land you have at your disposal should be used to feed our families and our communities....
TorontoJoe
Administrator
Lowes shut down all their stored in Canada in 2023. Home Depot won the battle up here permanently. That was a surprise. They were huge and then poof... they were gone!
I've been doing mostly galvanized beds. Our equivalent to Harbor Freight here is Princess Auto. They come out with some great deals on these kits from time to time. I have them 6-7 years old and they still look pristine. I just throw away the fasteners and use my own.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
They come out once a year in various sizes... and they sell out quick!
I put a 2x2 stake in each corner driven down deep as I can and screw it to the corner so the base doesn't shift in the freeze. I learned to do that the hard way. But the beds themselves are really good. The price is unreal. They're totally no-name but they've not rusted at all.
TorontoJoe
Administrator
the ones in this post are maybe 5 years old... you can see they're very clean... but the lower one I didn't use a foundation stake and it has heaved.
I basically plant my garlic as late as I can while the ground is still workable. I actually don't know how bad it is if you plant too early and it sprouts before winter.
The hardnecks seem to really like the cold. It has to be the most maintenance-free thing that I grow.
Oh! And I promise this is 100% true.... since I've started growing garlic I have not seen a single vampire here.... Not one!
I basically plant my garlic as late as I can while the ground is still workable. I actually don't know how bad it is if you plant too early and it sprouts before winter.
The hardnecks seem to really like the cold. It has to be the most maintenance-free thing that I grow.
Oh! And I promise this is 100% true.... since I've started growing garlic I have not seen a single vampire here.... Not one!
Ive got the same soil knife! Life got in the way this winter so I just planted my garlic today. Hoping for at least some decent sized bulbs come July. Last year I had a really bad season and half the crop started dying early in Mayish.the ones in this post are maybe 5 years old... you can see they're very clean... but the lower one I didn't use a foundation stake and it has heaved.
I basically plant my garlic as late as I can while the ground is still workable. I actually don't know how bad it is if you plant too early and it sprouts before winter.
The hardnecks seem to really like the cold. It has to be the most maintenance-free thing that I grow.
Oh! And I promise this is 100% true.... since I've started growing garlic I have not seen a single vampire here.... Not one!
TorontoJoe
Administrator
I've never planted garlic before winter. I don't even know if it's possible here. Please follow up with your results.
That soil knife isn't available here. It's made in Italy and sold by A.M Leonard. A fig Fanatic friend in the US was kind enough to forward it to me after I bought it and had it shipped to him.
Yep thats the one got mine from amleo back in 2024. Still get their catalogs in the mail too lol.
Here I usually plant them in November or December. Our winters are typically mild with the occasional dips into below freezing temps. This past winter was the harshest in probably 10 years and im sure its nothing compared to yours lol. That being said I want to say it should still be possible as the snow will actually insulate the soil from the air which is actually what hurts plants the most (especially with frost)
TorontoJoe
Administrator
That soil knife is rock-solid. I'm hard on it and it doesn't show a scratch.
@paupau You haven't seen my heating methods? I have a major post coming out soon about heating in-ground soil.
Not sure im following you. You heat your soil during winter?
TorontoJoe
Administrator
@paupau
Sometimes, occasionally.... I try to post something that's of actual, practical use I hope this helps others growing figs in cold climates and like the original, Electri-fig-ation method, I hope others find their own ways to adapt and improve on the idea.
As these well protected trees get bigger and bigger they start to wake up later and later every year. We've had some discussion about trying to get the trees to wake earlier in the spring by applying warm water to the root zone....I don't know how well that works. I've been hinting around trying to figure out...
I hope this helps others growing figs in cold climates and like the original, Electri-fig-ation method, I hope others find their own ways to adapt and improve on the idea.As these well protected trees get bigger and bigger they start to wake up later and later every year. We've had some discussion about trying to get the trees to wake earlier in the spring by applying warm water to the root zone....I don't know how well that works. I've been hinting around trying to figure out...
Woah thats genius! How warm was it able to keep the soil after winter?@paupau
Sometimes, occasionally.... I try to post something that's of actual, practical use
As these well protected trees get bigger and bigger they start to wake up later and later every year. We've had some discussion about trying to get the trees to wake earlier in the spring by applying warm water to the root zone....I don't know how well that works. I've been hinting around trying to figure out...