[AmandaLouise]

Hi everyone

I planted my garlic cloves in pots on the window sill about 2 weeks ago, and did not know they would take so fast, some of the top green shoots are about 3 inches high.  Now I am not quite sure what to do next except put them in the ground!  However with the recent frost and snow I have not been able to do any work on the allotment beds for weeks now.  Will they be okay in the pots that are about 3 inches high x 3 inches wide.  they do look really healthy. 

I hope I will not bug anyone that I planted them as i know its frowned upon planting or sowing too early on here, but I was following the packet instruction and asked the garden centre expert for advice and this is what he told me to do.

Many thanks
Amanda

[mumofstig]

Starting them early was ok, in pots was ok - it was keeping them in the warm that made them start growing so quickly, they should have been out in the cold.

So have you got anywhere cooler to put them, because you need to start hardening them off now, to go outside in a week or 2

[DD.]

Once again I have to say that I agree with mum.

Once again we see that warmer is not necessarily better.

That garden centre - they wouldn't be looking for a new "expert" would they?

[AmandaLouise]

Mum of stig, many thanks for this, I will try and find somewhere else to place them.

DD - I am a new allotment gardener and trying my best, and unfortunately I sometimes have no idea and therefore I post on here to ask for "helpful" advice.  Sorry I asked such  a "stupid" question.

Thanks to everyone who shares their knowledge, much appreciated.

[DD.]

I'm not saying it's you, the garden centre "expert" should know better.

[Trillium]

Here's a little extra help:

http://www.allotment-garden.org/allotment-tips/garlic-in-pots.php

[AmandaLouise]

Hi thanks for the link.  i have watched this many times, its brilliant.  I have a greenhouse at the allotment, but as my windowsill in kitchen is a very cold spot I thought it would be about the same temperature and I could keep an eye on them, but maybe not! at weekend I will take them to the allotment.

Cheers
Amanda

[Amilo]

Last year I tried a couple of rows of Garlic in the green house as an experiment, they were planted before Christmas. well you know how cold last winter was, but despite that in August I harvested a good crop and no failures, this year I have extended the experiment and put a row of carrots and a row of onion sets.

Before we left home for 3 months in January, every thing was growing, the carrots where 2" seedlings the garlic was 5" or 6" high and the onion sets where 3" high.