[davethespread]

hi all,i have planted my garlic about a week and a half ago now and its the first time in autumn.can you tell me is it normal for them to be sprouting out of the ground already for the winter.
                thanks dave

[Potiron]

 Crumbs Dave, ours arnt even in the shops to buy yet. 

[davethespread]

am i too early then?

[Lupin lurcher]

Hi Dave, I have brought some from a garden centre in Tenterden, Kent this week and it says to be planted in November, it says on packet that you have to seperate each clove from the bulb and plant them individually.  Im going to give a a week or so then give them a go, cant loose anything they where really cheap, I think about one pound fifty for 2 bulbs.  The garden centres in kent are all selling them.
Mandy.

[davethespread]

yeah i bought some from wyevale,cant remember what they were now although the pack is in the shed on my plot.it said plant october-november, i was just wondering should they be up already or is it our crazy climate :blink:

[Lupin lurcher]

Not really sure Dave but with the crazy weather we have been having latley I really am not suprised.  They give it about 68 nxt week so I expcect they will grove even more,  I am only a novice and had my allotment since the mid aug. so I would wait until an someone who knows what they are talking about to give you advice.  Mandy.

[mumofstig]

I has been a bit warmer than usual the last week or so and that's probably why they have sprouted so early, but they are winter hardy so it's not a problem  

[davethespread]

cheers mumofstig
so mandy how are you enjoying your plot?i only took mine on in march.i love being down there,had a great year really considering the amount of time i had to prepare.

[Lupin lurcher]

I am in my eliment down there Dave, absolutlly love it, have only had sicnce Mid Aug.  It was a nightmere with weeds, but me and hubby soon got them under control (for the moment) I  thinks its an on going prob.  but I dont mind, we have put a shed up that we were given and made a compost bin out of pallets we found at the side of the road.  Some
kind lady gave us some small cabbage plants 3 weeks ago and they are coming on great.  I wont talk to much about the new potatoes they said will grow for Christmas coz they arnt doing to well, we are the only ones growing them over the allotment, still never mind.  Planted logenberrys, red gooseberrys, a thornless blackberry bush and some raspberrys in the last week.  All in all it is a fantastic hoby.

[davethespread]

too right,im looking forward to next spring.hopefully it will be easier than this year at least i will have two legs to stand on,it was hard work balancing on one leg, crutches in one hand hoe in the other earthing up me spuds

[Babstreefern]

You can plant garlic anytime between September and December.  My first go of planting garlic was in the September, and last year, I plant in December, and out of the both, I thought planting in December was a better choice, of which I will be doing again this year.

There's no harm if they are now starting to sprout.  The difference is that when it comes to harvest, you will be lifting yours at end of June (wherever you live in the country) and I will be lifting mine sometime in August.

But whatever, you can't beat fresh garlic.

[davethespread]

too right babs,i could only plant in spring this year so they did'nt clove up.

[Lupin lurcher]

That must of been difficult Dave, sorry to hear you hurt your leg.
Mandy

[Salmo]

Timing is a matter of luck. What you want is just a little growth before the really cold weather. The roots will keep developing. To my mind conditions now are about right. Leave it too late and the soil can get cold and wet and they can rot.

[davethespread]

That must of been difficult Dave, sorry to hear you hurt your leg.
Mandy

i hurt it years ago mandy,my ankle is arthritic so they done a triple fusion of the joint to try and take the pain away.i find a bottle of scotch works