Garlic - to dib or not to dib

[Barnowl]

I gather garlic should be planted 1 to 2 inches down.  Should I dib and drop, or push the cloves in?

[Barnowl]

[miniroots]

I did a bit of both - a dib and a shove.  But don't take my advice.  Mind you I have got two shoots now...

I am am doing an experiment with my garlic - I planted a load a few weeks ago (early November? must check) and I am going to plant another lot on Friday (shortest day of the year) because of the traditional saying.  However, they are different sorts of garlic - so I'm not sure what it will prove...

I will report my experimental findings.

[Larkspur]

Hi Barnowl, dib or trowel and drop them in. Thats what I do based on the idea that like onion sets the root platelets in the base can be damaged if you push them in.

[Barnowl]

Thanks for the advice  :)  - will pop them in this w.e.

[tim]

Same with Shallots - not only can you squash them if you push, but they'll just push out again!

[Robert_Brenchley]

Dib a hole, drop them in. Depth doesn't matter. As with shallots, I cover them with a couple of inches of grass cuttings.

[tim]

Still cutting your grass, Robert??

[kt.]

Never grown garlic or shallots. I enquired about putting some in the ground 3 - 4 weeks ago but was told it was too late to plant. Reading this thread seems to contradict what I was previousley told. Which is right? Am I best starting from seed or buying bulbs and do I plant the entire bulb or each individual clove? ???

[kt.]

Just read the thread on shallots started by Supersprout. Answers my previous questions. And probably yours too Barnowl. ;)

[Merry Tiller]

I am going to plant another lot on Friday (shortest day of the year) because of the traditional saying

I have an idea that the saying refers to shallots, not garlic

[Hyacinth]

Never grown garlic or shallots. I enquired about putting some in the ground 3 - 4 weeks ago but was told it was too late to plant. Reading this thread seems to contradict what I was previousley told. Which is right? Am I best starting from seed or buying bulbs and do I plant the entire bulb or each individual clove? ???

It's not too late - but it may be too wet now where you are? Dunno. And buy bulbs & plant the cloves - twice as deep as the cloves - same principle as dafs, etc., 'bout 5-6" apart.

[Barnowl]

Very sandy free draining soil here - have to add organic material to aid moisture retention - so hoping garlic will be ok. Might try some in pots as well.

[Hyacinth]

Wherever you are, pots is good and still do-able 8)

[mc55]

I planted my garlic and shallots on the shortest day last December. Shallots were fab (Tescos finest) but garlic was disappointingly small.

[miniroots]

Well I put mine in today - Solent White.  Built up a bit of a ridge to try and improve drainage, and now I'll just cross my fingers.  It's got a bit of catching up to do with the stuff I planted before...

Wait and see...

[blight]

I usually plant half of my garlic early october, the rest in march.
autumn planted garlic is ready in mid june in my parts.
spring planted garlic I harvest end of july. it  keeps longer than autumn planted  but the bulbs stay smaller.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Mine went in in November-December lat year; Albigensian Wight was ready at the end of June, Solent wight in mid-July. This year I've planted both in early Autumn, plus Early Wight in Decmber. It'll be interesting to see what happens next year.