Garlic Sets - When to plant?

[mew]

Hi
I have some summer harvesting garlic sets (Cristo) and from reading lots of posts and various websites I seem to be under the impression that garlic should be planted in the autumn (Oct/Nov time) but the instructions on the packet I have says plant in Autumn or Spring.

Can I plant my sets now or am I best waiting for the autumn?

Many thanks
MEW

[charlie]

Hi,
I planted mine a couple of weeks ago, seem fine. Have started showing signs of life, so i guess should be ok.

[Andy Hamilton]

You can plant them now, I often do. Garlic needs a period of cold to get started which is why Autumn planting is recomended, you can just put it int the frezer for a couple of days.

[red]

I'm trying solent wight which is supposed to be better for British climate - and that says plant March to April on the packet of bulbs I bought - so thats what I'm doing. Perhaps it depends on variety?

[chadspad]

And when is it ready to eat? I planted mine about Oct - theyve all sprouted nicely with long green bits - look a bit like shallots. What tells u its ready for harvesting?

[Andy Hamilton]

I pick mine when the green shoots turn a sort of yellowy brown.

[ohareward]

Hi from downunder, we normally plant our garlic on or about the shortest day, mid June, and harvest on or about the longest day, end of December. A commercial garlic grower told me that he checks the top of the bulb just where the stem starts. When the tops have started to change colour, look at the skin on the top of the bulb, they are ready when there are three (3) layers. I use bulbs from the previous harvest, picking out the fattest cloves to replant next year. That way you get the best and save money. It is not advisable to plant garlic in the same place year after year. Rotate in a 3-4 year cycle. Garlic are susceptible to white rot, which will stay in the soil for 2-3 years.
Robin

[hedgewizard]

All allium species concentrate on leaf growth until the daylight starts to reduce, then they pull all the nutrients back down into the bulb. For that reason you get bigger bulbs from an autumn planting BUT you run the risk of losing some to rot over the winter. It's really up to you. Why not plant a few this autumn, put the rest in in the spring, and let us know how you get on next year?

[Bonniegirl]

Hi from downunder, we normally plant our garlic on or about the shortest day, mid June, and harvest on or about the longest day, end of December. A commercial garlic grower told me that he checks the top of the bulb just where the stem starts. When the tops have started to change colour, look at the skin on the top of the bulb, they are ready when there are three (3) layers. I use bulbs from the previous harvest, picking out the fattest cloves to replant next year. That way you get the best and save money. It is not advisable to plant garlic in the same place year after year. Rotate in a 3-4 year cycle. Garlic are susceptible to white rot, which will stay in the soil for 2-3 years.
Robin

Thanks for the reminder, and don't forget daylight saving here this Sunday!

[Smooth Hound]

I planted my spring garlics 2 weeks ago into toilet roll tubes and i will plant them into the ground the end of next week, also i planted some i think it was nov, they are all fine but 2 of them, I am in NE Scotland.

[Cheezy]

I've heard that the traditional day for planting garlic is Christmas day!
Similar to your shortest day down under.

However as a previous link I've got solent wight white and purple!

Purple goes in Oct to December, white goes in March.

[Jack]

Gidday

I used to believe that it was best to plant on the shortest day and they are ready for harvest after the longest day. But since being in Otago I have been told plant on ANZAC Day. I have tried that with great success.