[Casey76]

I always read about people planting their garlic inthe depths of winter, but the garlic sets(?) have only just appeared in the GCs over the past month.  On the label it says you can plant between Jan and April (these are "pink" type garlic if that makes any difference) and harvest June to Sep?

Is French garlic different to English garlic?

[Lardman]

There are 2 types autumn planted and spring, lots of us here seem to grow music which is an autumn planting variety, but the spring planting types are starting to show up in the usual places. I saw some at been and queued earlier this week. So plant away  Just dont forget to split the bulbs into their cloves.

Is French garlic different to English garlic?

<Insert Xenophobic joke here>

[JayG]

Garlic has to experience vernalisation - a period of cold to trigger the production of new cloves to form a complete bulb.

The figures given vary a lot, but 10C or less for around 40 days is probably about the average.

Vernalisation usually takes place in the ground, but it appears that it can be done 'artificially' (i.e. by refrigeration) before planting - it's only a guess of course but perhaps that's what the French do to prepare their spring-sown garlic.

Brief reference to refrigeration HERE (paragraph below the picture of garlic bulbs.)

[Casey76]

Thanks both.  I will give it a try then (the garlic averages about 3.50€ for 5 or 6 whole bulbs (so approx 40 cloves) - I think it's worth an experiment.

If they don't divide by the time they're picked, I'm sure they will make lovely roasters