[The Norfolk Turkey]

I found a whole bulb that I never planted back in autumn (found it as it was stinking out the garage in fact!). I know it needs a spell of cold weather to form cloves sp here in lies the question......

The frosts seem to have  passed and I dont think it will now be cold enough for it to form cloves on its own, so - what harm planting in pots and slinging in the freezer for a couple of hours?

Any thoughts?

[digalotty]

i think peapods may have mentioned this before so it sounds ok to me

[peapod]

Exactly what Im going to do....when it eventually gets here 

[Epona_4]

would being in the fridge for a few days do the trick too?  :blink:

[peapod]

They need a freezing cold snap, so I think that the fridge wouldn't quite be cold enough.

[Epona_4]

ooh rightio peapod thankyou for that have now moved them into the freezer...how long for would you suggest?

[gowing238]

what happens if they dont have a freeze? Do you just get one whole bulb of garlic instead of cloves?

[peapod]

what happens if they dont have a freeze? Do you just get one whole bulb of garlic instead of cloves?

Well, not always. Mine were planted after the frosts last year and they still cloved.  But saying that, I was given them by an old hand at the plot, and didnt ask what he did with them before he gave them to me, but they need cold to break out of dormancy - hence the freezer trick

Spring planted garlic is sometimes smaller too.

[Salmo]

Garlic only needs to be below 10 degrees to make it form cloves. It will probably be Ok planted anyway but if you are worried give it a week in the bottom of the fridge (about 5 degrees). My opinion is that putting an a freezer at minus 18 degrees may well kill it.

[mumofstig]

They need a freezing cold snap, so I think that the fridge wouldn't quite be cold enough.

We'll know the answer later this year 'cos I just planted mine after 3 days in the fridge!

I forgot to plant it in the autumn as well

[galen]

Due to late purchase and bad weather my garlic overwintered in the fridge  :blink:  before making it to 3inch pots and finally planting out at the beginning of this month - going great guns today 

Seem to recall reading on here last year that the fridge would be cold enough, like MOS I'll find out later whether it cloves