Growing Garlic from Seed

fortyonenorth · April 13, 2012

I just read a really interesting article in the Spring 2012 SSE publication about growing garlic from seed - true seed, as opposed to bubils. The author has published the complete article on his blog: http://garlicseed.blogspot.com/p/gro...true-seed.html

I think I'll see if I can manage to harvest some seed this year as I am growing several of the varieties the author recommends as being suitable seed-bearing types.

tjg911 · April 13, 2012

i remember reading about this in "GROWING GREAT GARLIC " by Ron Engeland. it is a really difficult process and iirc until fairly recently (the book was from 1991 i think) it had not been done. it's a long process to do it from bubils why would you want to spend even more time doing it from seed?

tom

fortyonenorth · April 13, 2012

Quote:

Originally Posted by tjg911

why would you want to spend even more time doing it from seed?tom

The article cites a few reasons. Of course, barring mutations, it's the only way to create "new" varieties. Also, asexually reproduced crops like garlic, multiplier onions, shallots, potatoes etc. can develop viruses over time. Finally, it expands the genetic diversity of the crop.

But, as you say, it's a whole lot of time and effort.

zorro777 · April 14, 2012

It's also a way to have garlic without the virus that is common to domesticated garlic.

swamper · April 16, 2012

I bought some garlic from seed from Ivan this year and he sent me lots of free samples of additional varieties. It all looks good coming up. Apparently the toughest part is getting seed that will germinate.

http://www.ivansnewgarlics.com/Home.html

wmontanez · April 21, 2012

I want to find shallot seeds but haven't been able to get my own yet. I do get true seed from my potatoes and this year will attempt to have some onion for seed etc. The links are very interesting thanks for sharing. I am trying that too to see if I get any true seed.

My garlic had bulbils that I saved and planted. The first year they look like chives and only developed into a size of a large garlic clove which I planted and now in their 2nd year are looking like a normal plant. Maybe in their 3rd year they get to produce a big head of garlic.

wmontanez · August 18, 2012

Oh I got some seed this year from 5 plants of shallots. I saved the seed to sow in Winter indoors.

My garlic from bulbils produced a big size bulb now I have about 25 bulbs for this fall to plant. They should be year 3 next season. I also got more new bulbils that I am planting in the fall to regenerate my garlic seed. They seem to become smaller and smaller each year.
Any tricks? what should I use for fertilizers?

April 13, 2012	#1
fortyonenorth Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: NW Indiana Posts: 1,150	Growing Garlic from Seed I just read a really interesting article in the Spring 2012 SSE publication about growing garlic from seed - true seed, as opposed to bubils. The author has published the complete article on his blog: http://garlicseed.blogspot.com/p/gro...true-seed.html I think I'll see if I can manage to harvest some seed this year as I am growing several of the varieties the author recommends as being suitable seed-bearing types.

April 13, 2012	#2
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i remember reading about this in "GROWING GREAT GARLIC " by Ron Engeland. it is a really difficult process and iirc until fairly recently (the book was from 1991 i think) it had not been done. it's a long process to do it from bubils why would you want to spend even more time doing it from seed? tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

April 21, 2012	#6
wmontanez Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts: 776	I want to find shallot seeds but haven't been able to get my own yet. I do get true seed from my potatoes and this year will attempt to have some onion for seed etc. The links are very interesting thanks for sharing. I am trying that too to see if I get any true seed. My garlic had bulbils that I saved and planted. The first year they look like chives and only developed into a size of a large garlic clove which I planted and now in their 2nd year are looking like a normal plant. Maybe in their 3rd year they get to produce a big head of garlic. __________________ Wendy Last edited by wmontanez; April 21, 2012 at 07:50 PM.

August 18, 2012	#7
wmontanez Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: MA Posts: 776	Oh I got some seed this year from 5 plants of shallots. I saved the seed to sow in Winter indoors. My garlic from bulbils produced a big size bulb now I have about 25 bulbs for this fall to plant. They should be year 3 next season. I also got more new bulbils that I am planting in the fall to regenerate my garlic seed. They seem to become smaller and smaller each year. Any tricks? what should I use for fertilizers? __________________ Wendy

April 14, 2012	#4
zorro777 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: North Cent Wisconsin zone 4a Posts: 15	It's also a way to have garlic without the virus that is common to domesticated garlic.

April 16, 2012	#5
swamper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2009 Location: CT Posts: 219	I bought some garlic from seed from Ivan this year and he sent me lots of free samples of additional varieties. It all looks good coming up. Apparently the toughest part is getting seed that will germinate. http://www.ivansnewgarlics.com/Home.html