[chickpeacurry]

Last year when I planted out my garlic I added some fertilizer I think it was grow more.  Do other people add anything at planting stage.   Been reading advice and fertilizer is often not added.  I have sprinkled some grow organic over the soil.  Should I add chicken manure or grow more or am I wasting fertilizers.

[DD.]

In my opinion any fertiliser applied now can be washed out with the over winter rains.

I apply mine once the garlic starts to go in spring.

[timdunn]

I add a good dose if blood fish and bone when I plant them and that's it. I believe it's slow release...

[Trillium]

They're just setting their roots in fall. I add manure in late winter when they're ready to grow again and need lots of food to do so.

[Kristen]

They're just setting their roots in fall. I add manure in late winter when they're ready to grow again and need lots of food to do so.

Interesting. Just as a "Mulch" over the whole bed, or are you careful to keep it clear of the plants?

[Trillium]

I  avoid touching the emerging stems and manure mulch right around the plants and across the bed area. The roots will spread out seeking food as well as better stabilizing the plant in high winds.

The reason I also spread out the manure is that my soil still has stones (despite work to clear them) and the roots can spread wherever they have to in order to find nutrients. My finished plants average 3 ft tall with good sized heads and large root balls.

[Kristen]

I've made a note to do that next year, thanks 

[NickoV]

I grow about 300 bulbs a year, selling about half.
The garlic follows main crop potatoes so there is minimal ground preparation, just raking flat. I plant only the biggest cloves, 50mm deep and about 25cm apart each way in a block.I do this before the end of October. I then mulch the whole of the two beds(semi raised no dig) with loose composted manure about 20mm thick.
Been doing this for the last 10 years without any problems and with massive yields.

I did use courser compost one year and the garlic struggled to push through the clumps of mulch.