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Frost protection for garlic?

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  • #1

    Frost protection for garlic?

    I always thought that you planted garlic in late autumn/early winter and the frost and cold weather caused it to split into separate cloves, giving big healthy crops next summer.

    However, I've just read on the Gardeners World website (am I allowed to post that, if not sorry mods!) that you should cover garlic with a cloche in frosty weather? Can anyone help shed any light for me?
    Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance
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  • #2
    OH!Like you I thought the whole purpose of autumn planting was to let all the winter elements do their work on splitting the cloves,therefore producing healthy large crops??
    We've never protected ours & they've been fine,but will watch with interest whether I've been doing it all wrong!?
    the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

    Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

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    • #3
      my garlic in pots have shoots standing at 6 inches now, so I plan to plant half out, unprotected to see which do best.
      Vive Le Revolution!!!
      'Lets just stick it in, and see what happens?'
      Cigarette FREE since 07-01-09

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      • #4
        I planted some in pots last year and planted half of them out in a cold Jan, half I kept in pots in a frost free outbuilding. I put them outside when it got warmer.
        The ones in the ground did better, however they all got white rot later in the year..

        This year I've planted garlic in a nice warm wooden pot. It will sit in the cold garden though.
        "Orinoco was a fat lazy Womble"

        Please ignore everything I say, I make it up as I go along, not only do I generally not believe what I write, I never remember it either.

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        • #5
          I plant mine outside Moggssue and leave them through the winter and get a good crop.
          Maybe it depends what kind of garlic is being grown. I believe some of the Mediterranean varieties might not be hardy here.
          I grow a variety called Music, grown by the The Really Garlicky Company in Nairn so it's Scottish winter hardy.

          From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

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          • #6
            We always leave ours out unprotected and it always does really well. I can't stand the stuff, so it probably grows just to spite me. When the leaves turn brown my kids and friends are told that the garlic is ready and to go and help themselves. Sadly even if I arrange to be miles away at the time, the soil still stinks for weeks so there's no escape. Anyway, I'm told it always makes large, juicy bulbs with separate cloves, so it must be OK.
            Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.

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            • #7
              In complete agreement with all gone before. I plant up in pots every autumn till they are around 5-6 inches tall then stick them in the deck and leave them till eating time. Not failed yet (touches wood in nervous anticipation)
              Bob Leponge
              Life's disappointments are so much harder to take if you don't know any swear words.

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              • #8
                how far apart should I plant them?
                Vive Le Revolution!!!
                'Lets just stick it in, and see what happens?'
                Cigarette FREE since 07-01-09

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                • #9
                  About 5 inches apart, roughly.

                  I would warn any of you who start their cloves off in small pots - to be planted out later - that they are vulnerable to the winter weather. The pots do not offer protection to the roots - which quickly develop - and they can be killed by the cold.

                  Mine were in 3 inch pots in a cold frame and they all succumbed to freezing temperatures last winter (Solent Wight variety). The roots went black and they stopped growing.

                  In the ground, the roots quickly grown down and away from the danger zone of frost.

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                  • #10
                    I plant 2" deep - 4" apart and I plant direct into the soil and do not cover against frost, I had a lovely crop from last year's plantings. I haven't planted this year's just yet, I plan on waiting until November
                    aka
                    Suzie

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                    • #11
                      Ive got some in the ground and the majority in windowboxes outside. Hope they are deep enough
                      WPC F Hobbit, Shire police

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by FionaH View Post
                        Ive got some in the ground and the majority in windowboxes outside. Hope they are deep enough
                        you should be alright, we don't really get hard, hard frosts around here anyway.

                        has anyone else planted garlic in little ridges like JS did on GW the other night, I've have given it a go this year, as an experiment.
                        Kernow rag nevra

                        Some people feel the rain, others just get wet.
                        Bob Dylan

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                        • #13
                          I read somewhere that garlic actually needs the cold - about 10 weeks of it, I think - in order to form cloves. If it doesn't get it you just end up with a garlic flavoured onion-type thingy. The way our winters are going the problem might soon be that it doesn't get cold enough to grow here.
                          Into each life some rain must fall........but this is getting ridiculous.

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by kernowyon View Post
                            you should be alright, we don't really get hard, hard frosts around here anyway.

                            has anyone else planted garlic in little ridges like JS did on GW the other night, I've have given it a go this year, as an experiment.
                            yeah I saw that bit, and am going to try it tomorrow when they go in.
                            Vive Le Revolution!!!
                            'Lets just stick it in, and see what happens?'
                            Cigarette FREE since 07-01-09

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                            • #15
                              did he do it as a catch crop and if so what were the other crops?
                              Last edited by piskieinboots; 16-10-2008, 06:44 PM.
                              aka
                              Suzie

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