[Optimistic Gardener]

Hi
I'm trying out garlic Cristo in my raised bed over the winter. I planted the bulbs on 5 October alongside some shallots.  I've never grown either before. 

Well the shallots are about 3-4" tall and looking good.  However the garlic hasn't shown any shoots at all so far. I appreciate it has been quite dry and warm recently.  An experienced gardener I asked recently said that the garlic wouldn't start to shoot until we'd had a frost. Is that right please?

[New shoot]

Garlic is triggered into growth by the cold, but does not necessarily need a frost to get going. 

Have a gentle furtle and check if the cloves still feel firm and are not rotting.  If it is OK, it is probably making roots and will shoot soon.  Whenever I have started it in pots (in seasons when the plot is too wet to risk planting direct) I've been amazed how much root growth it puts on compared to green growth on top 

[Optimistic Gardener]

Thanks New Shoot. I shall have a gentle furtle!
OG

[mumofstig]

  An experienced gardener I asked recently said that the garlic wouldn't start to shoot until we'd had a frost. Is that right please?

I'm not sure that's right  but the first thing they do is grow a mass of roots - so it follows that they won't grow shoots for a few weeks, which would normally be............after a frost  So I think it's probably coincidence, rather then the frost causing growth IYSWIM

[AnneB]

I think it is quite variety dependent too.  I have planted several varieties this year: Messidrome, Purple Wight, Russo di Sulmona, Solent Wight and Edenrose.  The Messidrome and Solent Wight haven't shown yet, but the others have. Planted 3 weeks ago.

[Optimistic Gardener]

Thanks everyone.  I won't worry just yet then. I think the temperature is due to fall a little more this coming week anyway.

[Robster]

I planted my shallots and garlic about a month ago.  My shallots are all up with lots of growth on and the garlic is only just showing.  So I think that the garlic is just slower and nothing to worry about.

[BabbyAnn]

  An experienced gardener I asked recently said that the garlic wouldn't start to shoot until we'd had a frost. Is that right please?

I'm not sure that's right  but the first thing they do is grow a mass of roots - so it follows that they won't grow shoots for a few weeks, which would normally be............after a frost  So I think it's probably coincidence, rather then the frost causing growth IYSWIM

He is partly right - it depends on the variety as already pointed out.  The frost (or at least a good drop in soil temperature) breaks the dormant stage of the garlic and it will start to throw out roots first.  I think some of the hardnecks from cold regions are more prone to this than some of the Mediterranean cultivars but I could be wrong (read it somewhere but can't remember where - I recall it mentioned that those regions that do not get winters cold enough could pop the garlic into the fridge overnight to start the process before planting.  I think this was from a website in the US)

To be honest, I'd rather not see any top growth until after January - some of the early maturing ones usually show about then, the later maturing ones from about March depending on the weather of course ... a mild winter will bring things along a lot quicker than a deep freeze.

[Growster...]

We planted out a packet of Cristo a week ago, and already the top growth is over an inch, while the roots are about the same!

The short row of Thermidrome however, aren't showing anything so far!

[brokenglass]

Thermidrome planted on Sunday 26th October up an inch or more by Saturday 1st November.        More top growth than roots so far.      First time with thermidrome surprised by the speed of growth.