[Pep]

Hi,

Has anyone ever soaked garlic cloves for a day or two prior to setting? 

I've been reading lots of postings about garlic and haven't seen any mention of it.

The reason I ask is because this is what we've been recommended to do by a neighbour.  As he's in his 70's, been growing it for years on end and all Bulgarians love garlic, he should know what he's talking about.  He also recommends walking up and down the rows after setting, presumably to firm them in.

It's my first year of growing garlic and don't want to fail.

Any tips or advice will be really appreciated.

By the way, I don't have a clue as to the variety, they were just some that were for sale on the local market.

Pauline

[Yorkie]

I've never heard of that for garlic either  :blink:

[mumofstig]

I can't see the point, unless it is very old dried garlic.
Fresh garlic is moist and plump already and the roots grow quickly.... that's the whole point of a bulb surely   

[prakash_mib]

where is DD.
as he would say!!!
the farmers dont do it! 

[dumpling]

You could try soaking half, and not soaking half, and see if there is any difference?

Make sure you plant label which is which (ask me how I know  )

[peapod]

where is DD.
as he would say!!!
the farmers dont do it! 

And as Yorkie said, Ive never heard of that.
No need to reinvent the wheel, just plonk em in!
Hes possibly firming down the ground to make it more difficult to make the birds dislodge the green shoots too.

[Pep]

Many thanks for your replies.  I must admit, I'd never heard of anyone soaking them but that doesn't mean to say they don't as I'm fairly new to this "grow your own".

I'll soak the very dry cloves for 24 hours but put the majority straight in as they are (yes dumpling, I'll either label or keep a mental note of which are which .

Thanks again, Pauline

[Aidy]

First I have heard and never done it myself. I always start them in a seed tray until the shoot is about inch n arf high and the roots are growing then transfer to final bed. They are normally easy to get going.

[Pep]

Thanks for that Aidy.  Unfortunately, we are 2 hours in front of you and was already setting when you posted  .

I'll get a few more from tomorrow's market and try your way.  From the last bulbs I bought I managed to get 50 cloves and paid the eqivalent of 44 uk pence so won't break the bank.

Pauline

[Trillium]

I'm with everyone else - unless the clove itself is quite dried out, there's no reason to soften in water first. And if the clove is that dry, why even bother with it?
If the clove is already plump, you'll only encourage faster rotting with soaking. Once the clove is in the soil, it will quickly start to absorb moisture and put out rootlets so no point in overdoing the watering in any form. If anything, you'll need to watch for heavy winter rains which might totally rot your crop.