h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi All

I have a question about growing garlic. I did some this year (planted in spring) and it did pretty well. Then, when watching Gardeners World last week (21st October) Monty Don said that garlic had to be planted now to get cold over winter and warm up in the Spring so I got some new bulbs and plated them the very next day as he advised. Now, I figured they would remain dormant over the winter and then pop up in the Spring, but the weather being what is has this past week the whole lot has already popped up and some is already 2 inches high! Not having planted at this time of the year I have no idea what is supposed to happen! Should they have started to grow already, or am I going to lose the whole lot? Can anyone offer any advice please?

Thanks in advance!

*pays attention as planning to put in some garlic this weekend*

The weather has been really hasn't it? I have had a second crop of strawberries from our patch, they are just ripe now. And all the annuals are still happily flowering away, the petunias are still putting on a great show in particular, but everything is still going strong. Most odd.

*Pays attention to advice about garlic, too*

The beech came into leaf last week on Fyen, Denmark.

Funny weather indeed! My instinct would be to let the hare sit. If the leaves die back again over the winter, the bulb might well survive and shoot again. I've got crocus and anemones popping up now, a *lot* earlier than I'd have expected, so I don't think it's just a garlic issue!

If the leaves do die back, maybe lift one or two of them and see if there's been much growth. I think they'll turn out ok though, since despite the hype, garlic seems to be hardy enough.

I too would leave the garlic where it is.
Garlic can be planed in Autumn or spring. The idea is you leave it for a whole year before lifting, so either way it will get the cold.
I've got bulbs comming up to, as long as they don't decide to flower they should be ok. Poor plants are getting so confused with our weird weather.

Jemstone Don't worry! Leave it where it is. It will slow down despite warm weather, simply because there's less and less daylight.

Yes, for best results it does need to stay in all winter in my experience, although I used to plant it on 7th November every year and found that to be optimal date in central Scotland.

I disagree that it should stay in the ground for a year though Pull it when the leaves turn brown and keel over. Usually mid-August in central Scotland.

Btw .. "used to plant it on 7th November", because I'm in Queensland, Oz now

and let us know what it tastes like next summer

My dad always planted his garlic in October and lifted it around September the following year. It always tasted good too me.

Thanks everyone I shall do as you all suggest - leave it where it is and see how it goes. The bulbs/cloves I planted were huge so I'm hoping for a bumper crop next year! I'll let you know how it goes, so fingers crossed for me.

Thanks all, it's great to have advice from those with experience!