[Geordie Gal]

Folks,

I bought garlic bulbs but it has been too cold and wet to get near the soil for the last week or so.  I know that I am months late but am I best to plant garlic in pots and bring them on in greenhouse to plan on later or would you advise that I plant them in the ground now?   

I'm in the North East and the plot gets the cold wind off the sea.

Thanks
GG

[chris23005]

What sort of garlic is it? I bought a few different varieties at the Isle of Wight Garlic Farm shop last year to try out, and some needed to be planted in the autumn (and are up and about 6 inches tall), and the rest had to be planted in the spring and only went in a couple of weeks ago and are poking through the soil at about 2 inches high. I would say, "give it a go" otherwise they will just shrivel up won't they?

[Geordie Gal]

Thanks Chris,

I bought them from a plant stall in the local market an didn't think to ask for growing instructions as I just assumed that they all had to be planted in the autumn.  Lesson number 367 don't make assumptions!!!

It looks drier today so I'll escape to the plot and stick them in.
Here' hoping.
GG

[mumofstig]

I was going to say........just plant them, cos they sure won't grow if you don't

You may have to harvest them a bit later, but if we get a half decent summer ....you should get decent bulbs

[Kristen]

I got some shrivelled cloves of a Spring-planting variety from the Garden Centre last week as my Autumn-planting ones ... errmmm .... sat on the shelf all winter   and when potted up in the Spring only a few survived. I have potted the new ones and all (well, except the ones that were squidgy mush that I threw away!) sprouted immediately. Will plant out in a week or so - ground not ready yet (another point for that - I shall now go away and berate myself)

[Elcie]

I agree with the previous posters, if you don't plant them they won't grow!  You might end up with smaller bulbs at the end of the season, or ones which haven't split into cloves, but it is better than throwing them away!

[Kristen]

I grew very manky little garlic bulbs last year. The Catering Department is still using them, and perfectly happy with them apparently ... but I think they look embarrassingly pathetic ... so even a manky harvest is probably going to be worth having

[chris23005]

I didn't pot up any of my garlic. On the contrary the instructions I had from the Garlic Centre specifically said that garlic likes the cold weather and actually needs it for some types to split into cloves! It is ALL growing and the stuff I planted in the autumn not only survived all the snow but is looking the most healthy!

[Kristen]

Agreed - much better NOT to pot up if you don't have to ... heavy clay here, plus a lazy gardener!, so my ground is rarely ready early in the year.

In fact got the Mantis for the first time this year to fluff up some beds only yesterday - the beds are looking lovely now even if I say so myself!

[Geordie Gal]

Thanks all for your advice - it does throw up another daft queston.  Do I need to divide the bulbs into cloves before I plant them or do I just plant the whole bulb like shallots. 

[Kimberley04]

Divide into individual cloves first.

[Geordie Gal]

Thanks.
That's my job for tomorrow. Hope that it stays dry.
GG

[blackbob]

Thanks.
That's my job for tomorrow. Hope that it stays dry.
GG

just checked out the data,and wev'e got a good spell of spring weather on route.

[Apostrophes]

Divide into individual cloves first.

Where were you four weeks ago when I planted entire clumps in the ground? I made some pasta sauce later that night and took out a clove. As soon as I saw it I realised I had done perhaps the stupidest thing since I started growing my own. Went back the next day and got them sorted. They're doing well now.