[rufty]

Hi,
I wonder if i could pick your collective brains:
I have some garlic that arrived from Suttons during the height of the recent cold weather and so I put it in fresh potting compost indoors thinking it would give it a good head start.
I've just started the process of hardening it off ready for planting out (they were getting quite big) however the shoots are starting to yellow. I understand this is a sign of nitrogen deficiency; however I find it hard to believe they have depleted fresh compost that quickly! If I'd have had this problem after planting them out I could understand it, but I put them in what should be an ideal environment, so I'm a little confused - maybe the potting compost is too rich for them.
For what it's worth I was in a rush to plant them because when they arrived they were very slightly mouldy (moist from being in the plastic from shipping i guess) so it seemed my choices were to either plant them or let them die, so I took the choice to plant them; maybe this was a bad idea.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[BabbyAnn]

is it possible the compost got a little dry or the plants got too warm?  I noticed last spring during the height of the warm dry spring that a lot of my garlic and shallots outside had yellow tips

[TheSpartacat]

My guess would be warmth too... they really don't like it

[bigben]

Garlic can cope with cold and in fact need it to form cloves so I would get them out ASAP. I dont know the cause of the yellow tips - it could be nitrogen deficiency which would probably be solved by putting them out. I have only come across it when mine were buried under a load of snow for a week or two last year. They soon recovered .

[rufty]

Thanks!
I'll plant them out then - I needed a job to do tonight - glad I fitted the floodlight now since it'll be after 8 before i get home...

[leeks r us]

I always plant my garlic sraight in the ground rufty late autumn and they sit through the winter no problem. plant them as you would onion sets.

[rufty]

I always plant my garlic sraight in the ground rufty late autumn and they sit through the winter no problem. plant them as you would onion sets.

Ah, because i was always told onion sets should be put in in March. (http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/veg_planner.asp)
My Granddad in particular was very insistent that onions go in in March so I took the assumption Garlic would be the same.

[leeks r us]

There are two planting times for garlic rufty november and then febuary/march time hope this helps.