[Snap Dragon]

I've never grown garlic before and was given a few cloves to try earlier this year.

They took off very quickly and are looking very similar to young onions.

However I'm reading lots of threads from people who planted in early Winter and are harvesting theirs now. I also read that they need a cold snap to split the cloves.

I read that garlic could be planted up to Spring.... will mine do anything or do they have to stay in till Winter?

I know nothing about garlic so any advice will be appreciated 

[Trillium]

You'll get a small head of maybe 2 or 3 cloves, perhaps even just one large one. Now you know when to plant (Sept to late October) you'll be ready for next year's big harvest. They're truly so easy to grow - just prep a good rich soil for them, pop in the separated cloves, net against pesky birds that think the tops are tasty greens and keep weeded until harvest.

http://www.allotment-garden.org/vegetable/onion-shallot/grow-garlic.php

[Snap Dragon]

So I should get some sort of crop from them then - that's good to know 
Seems a bit daft saying it's ok to plant up in Spring if you only get a smal crop! 

I'll just leave them where they are until they start to yellow then.... and start some more off in the Autumn 

Thanks Trillium

[Trillium]

Spring planting is daft. But packaged seed suppliers can't be bothered doing it up for fall which is the proper time. They seem to think that if you need to buy packaged garlic, you don't know what you're doing anyway so don't care that it won't properly crop. Some folk will plant as late as Feb but garlic really does need a good long time to set roots, a good cold spell to split the cloves, and a good time of warmth prior to summer solstice to fatten up the bulbs.
That said, be cautious with them as the UK seems to be getting a lot of rust and onion rot which will also affect garlic. Buy only good seed garlic (cloves) and plant in areas that never had any crops with either of the above. And you should do well.

[Snap Dragon]

My garlic was given to me so I haven't the foggiest what type it is... I will definately look into buying a good one this year though.

Buy only good seed garlic (cloves) and plant in areas that never had any crops with either of the above. And you should do well.

I plant a lot of onions, leeks and brassicas so rotation is a real nightmare for me!!!

[Irene]

Snap Dragon:

I'm in much the same situation with my garlic. Decided to try but made the decision in March.

They are growing nicely but who knows what results I'll obtain.

My productivity on several crops would have been different if I'd discovered this site earlier.

Trillium:

When you say "never" in your post does that mean that garlic always has to go in "virgin" ground or can you eventually rotate back to it?

[mobilekat]

Or local (giant) Organic farm grows lots of garlic, but they have concluded that as the local weather doesn't always allow for good drying, they will sell it as wet garlic, and its ruddy good- ends up a cross between garlic and a leek, and you use the whole plant, the closer to the bulb the stronger the flavour!

They then bring 'dry' garlic in from other regions once the 'wet' has gone over, so I did stick a few random cloves in a month ago to see what I got, with my theory being that its all between other crops so not taking any space, and may help keep the flies away from us when we are sat near it!

[mumofstig]

3 years ago I planted spring garlic and the bulb did split nicely, just that the cloves were a bit on the small size, still very usable though.
 they just take a bit longer in the ground to get there

[Irene]

mumofstig:

I obviously did not plant at the optimum time (early spring) but my garlic is still healthy and growing quite green. Do I simply give it as much time as it needs and wait for the tops to turn?

I'm in no rush, its a rather small planting in a very nested corner, but when should I be looking for change in the green? Or should I just stop worrying and relax.

[Trillium]

Just relax as garlic knows when it's time. Sometime in July or possibly August you'll see the tops start to go brown and when they do, it's the time to dig them up. No need to wait until it's totally brown before pulling as there'll be no more growth once it's started.  Dig out the bulbs, let them cure in the shade and out of rain for a few days, cut off the tops and root bits, and let them cure somewhere dry until the skins are papery. then they go into storage or wherever.