[Charl89]

am i too late to start garlic and if so how do you do it? saw the allotment next to me doing really well and never thought to grow it.

[Thephoenix572]

It can be grown either from spring or late autumn either way they need a winter to bulb properly

[mumofstig]

It can be grown either from spring or late autumn either way they need a winter to bulb properly

If you spring plant they don't get a winter   
There do seem to be a few varieties specially for spring planting, but I think you get better results for autumn planting

[DD.]

Yes, I can't quite fathom getting a winter from a spring planting either.

Don't start any now, wait until autumn.

This is what I planted:

http://www.reallygarlicky.co.uk/garlic

It's a bit more expensive than others, but it gives a cracking crop. Don't be tempted with shop bought, it may not suit or climate and could carry disease.

There's only about 5 to 6 cloves per bulb, but they're huge, easily peeled and you don't need many.

It's available from September onwards.

[Salmo]

DD- I have just looked at that website. Do you know when you plant this.

Really Garlicky Patagonian Purple Garlic
£2.00
REALLY GARLICKY APPROVED
Grown for us in the depths of Patagonia, this Southern hemisphere garlic is harvested in December. Chosen for its similar qualities to our own Scottish Hardneck Porcelain garlic, it is the ideal alternative while waiting for our own harvest in July

[mumofstig]

DD- I have just looked at that website. Do you know when you plant this.

Really Garlicky Patagonian Purple Garlic
£2.00
REALLY GARLICKY APPROVED
Grown for us in the depths of Patagonia, this Southern hemisphere garlic is harvested in December. Chosen for its similar qualities to our own Scottish Hardneck Porcelain garlic, it is the ideal alternative while waiting for our own harvest in July

They are for eating, they're not selling those ones as seed...........so who knows 

[Endymion]

Yes, I can't quite fathom getting a winter from a spring planting either.

You can put it in the fridge for a week or so, to make it think it's had a winter before it gets planted.

[Salmo]

Garlic does not need a very cold period to make it split into cloves. Something like below 10 C for a couple of weeks. Early Spring achieves this i.e. February/March. Later than that might be doubtful. The fridge treatment would also do this. If you plant later the garlic starts to bulb up before the plant has grown very big and the bulbs are small.

[DD.]

It'll be interesting to see what happens to my "Music" garlic this year. Due to circumstances beyond my control it didn't get planted until February, rather than the intended October.