I love roasted fresh garlic and this seems like reason enough to plant a row or two whilst the ground is not frozen at my allotment. My mate Colin says, “Plant on the shortest day (well only 4 days to go!) and harvest on the longest”. I’m yearning for summer already! You can plant cloves anytime between November and March and I’ve plumped for Solent Wight from the Garlic Farm as it has a great taste, grows happily in our climate and stores well. Prepare your soil well, adding plenty of compost and give your bulbs the sunniest space possible for best results. Be careful as you divide the cloves as any damage may lead to rotting and plant an inch and a half (3-4cms) deep, root down and pointy end up, about 6 inches apart. I’ll feed with Potassium sulphate in February, water well come March, then pray for a bit of sunshine to help it flourish. Here’s hoping……
P.s. Garlic can be grown in pots as well as in the ground, although bulbs probably won’t grow to such a large size. You’ll need a pot at least six inches wide and deep, but the bigger the pot, the more bulbs you can grow (and the less watering you’ll have to do!). Planting bulbs three to four inches (7-10cm) apart, you can fit 3 bulbs into a 6inch (15cm) pot, 6 into an 8inch (20cm) pot and 9 into a 10inch (25cm) pot.
have tried in the front door shed bin – no sign so far – planted in the summer!
Hi Rozelle, I’ve always been told that garlic shouldn’t be planted too early (before November) in the South, as cloves might be tricked into growth thinking it was spring and then the new shoots would get frosted over winter. If it hasn’t started growing yet (lucky!), the cold weather should induce growth come spring. Lots of plants need a cold spell to kick start them in spring -it’s called Vernalisation (lovely word), so hopefully you should still see shoots come March/April.
You’ve reminded me to get this done. I’ve been looking at a cloves sitting on the counter for over a week now!
Hi Karen, Mine had been sitting in the kitchen for weeks, nearly getting eaten on several occasions. Happily planted now (hurrah!), before they vanish in a salad dressing or latest recipe experiment.
Oh, it sounds so lovely to be able to plant at this time of the year. I planted mine at the end of September here in the north of Sweden. They are now hopefully resting sweetly underneath about 75 cm of snow. No sun at all here now, apparantly this is called polar nights, but locals never use this term. From previous experience I know that garlic is very hardy, they once came out in the open from the snow way to early, and there they where, already making a start for life. I thought they would die from the cold but they survived minus 12 without the soft cover of snow and gave me a fine crop the following July. Hoping for the same kind of miracle again.
Wow Asa, I’ve been moaning about a bit of ground frost and the shorter days here, but 2 and a half feet of snow and no daylight would certainly curtail one’s gardening activities! When will the ground be workable again? Good to know how hardy garlic can be (do you remember what variety you planted that year?) and yes, fingers crossed indeed for a warm and sunny summer.
I think garlic likes a cold snap doesn’t it? When people ask what they can do this time of year they always sound delighted when I tell them about planting garlic! I always find my home grown garlic to be jucier than any you buy in shops. A brilliant little crop to grow 🙂 Mine was rather small last year so I’m hoping for a better crop this year round. Fingers crossed!
Hi Anna, I’ve planted my cloves at my allotment this year, which has much lighter soil than my heavy clay at home. Hoping the cloves will appreciate the difference and grow big and juicy! You’re right, this is certainly a crop where the freshness of home-grown can be far superior to shop bought.
Rather like you I am longing to get planting again. My garlic went in a few weeks back but there’s nothing against sowing more. Weather permitting I shall plant some this week..
Hi Sue, Funny you should say that. Even as I was writing the post, I was wondering why I hadn’t planted more. Might leave it until March and see if there’s any difference in the bulbs planted now or in spring. Thanks for action provoking comment!
The last of the snow normally disappers in early May, I normally put violets out in pots almost at the same time. They can freeze during the nigth but then they always seem to recover, they haven´t died for me although temperatures been towards minus 10 degrees celsius. Serious gardening starts at the end of the same month and you have to work almost around the clock to be able to do everything that is necessary than. I plant seeds for vegetables in early June. It´s 24 hours of daylight at this time wich is the reason why it´s at all possible to garden in the arctic. Things grow during the summer with a tremendous speed!
Asa-Thanks for your Garlic variety. Will try some of these next autumn. Hadn’t really thought of the effect of 24 hours of sun on plants. It must be amazing to see growth happening so rapidly, and also a real feat to get all your planting done so quickly. Hats off to you arctic gardeners for growing in such demanding conditions!
Sorry I forgot, it was Thermidrome that I planted.
Now they look like good healthy heads to be planting. Think that it will be in the new year before I get mine in. I usually grow ‘Solent Wight’ and have found it to be a great keeper – 9 months plus (stored in garage)
Hi Anna, Good to hear that Solent Wight stores for so long. Think I need to get planting more though, so I’ll have plenty to roast and plenty left over to store as well.
Had a beautiful, bumper crop this summer. Used most readily in mama h’s kitchen. Had quite a few varieties. Alas, I don’t think that the crop next summer will be as bountiful. The deluge and the clay may well have eaten everything!
Glad to hear that someone had a good crop this year! Hope your cloves make it through this very soggy winter.
I don’t think they will some how. I think the deluge will have caused the clay to eat them all up. Will now be planting Spring garlic.