[Dave NE]

Last august I lifted my garlic and saved the best 6 bulbs for planting this year, they were perfectly dry but I didn't notice that my lean too had sprung a leak and the bulbs are in a seed tray . I found them 2 days ago in 1/2 inch of water with 1 inch sprouting tops, can I still plant them or will I cause damage to the root plate when separating them, help Dave

[Goosegirl]

Just separate them by gently jiggling the bulbs to free the top growth. The root plate is at the other end so if you  have some roots showing there as well, do the same. Check they haven't gone soft before doing this.

[mumofstig]

As GG says you should be able to wiggle them apart without doing too much damage. They may be a bit soft as the new top growth does tend to soften the bulb as it draws up the nutrients it needs to grow.

Get them in asap, make a ridge to grow them on, if the soil is very wet.

[Dave NE]

Many thanks for the quick reply guys/gals, asap it is, cheers Dave

[Growster...]

In fact, with this odd, soft weather we're having, you may well have hit on a new way to get garlic going quickly  Dave!

We can always remember times when the ground was like concrete about now...

Best of luck!

[oldgrunge]

As GG says you should be able to wiggle them apart without doing too much damage. They may be a bit soft as the new top growth does tend to soften the bulb as it draws up the nutrients it needs to grow.

Get them in asap, make a ridge to grow them on, if the soil is very wet.

"If the soil is very wet ". Oh, you are a one! Is there any soil in the UK that isn't very wet now? My garlic plot actually has pools of water in it. 

[Dave NE]

Well, I got all my cloves in today in raised planters, the cloves came away with no signs of damage to the roots or shoots and the whole job was very easy, fingers crossed for August/September, cheers Dave

[sunshineband]

That sounds very promising!

[mumofstig]

Way - hay! and they're off