[green jack]

hi all just after bit of advise on planting garlic,
i share the plot with my father inlaw (in hind site not a good idea) he is as green as me!!
anyway, back to the garlic,
i had them in trays to start with and before we had the snow planted them out in a small bed, i ask a fellow plot holder how to plant them and he advised to put them in the ground the same as they were in the trays, he showed me this by spacing them apart about 4 inch apart, now this is the thing, they started sprouting and coming on great and still are (i think) but this morning while down at the plot the father inlaw said they are in to shallow (the bulb) that are just under the surface of the soil and according to his book they should be 3-4 inch below? i have used the idiots friend (google) but can't seem to see anything regarding the depth he is saying.
so any advise is welcome, thanks jack

[richyrich7]

Well their in now I'd leave them if they are growing, some people say if you plant too deep it can reduce bulb size anyway.
 Mine went in with about 2" of soil above their necks. Great thing about gardening its not an exact science, and a great way to learn is by making mistakes trying new methods. See what happens this year, then next year try "by the book" planting.
Next year I'd plant them where you want them to grow and not move them from tray to bed etc.

[DD.]

To be honest, I don't think it makes a lot of difference.

John here:

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

says 4" deep, the RHS say just below the surface.

I put them in 3" down and get very large cloves.

[green jack]

thanks all, i think he just tries to annoy me 

[fatcat1955]

The weather will not harm them but if you are worried about the depth put a 2in mulch on them.

[Totty]

I put them a few inches down in the autumn and get really nice bulbs. Deeper and earlier the better IMO

Totty