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DoubleDogFarm
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To late to plant Garlic? Maybe not.

I shipped some Music Garlic to a member here at Helpful Gardener. I was thinking this is fun but really to late. If nothing else they could be eaten.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicExperiment004.jpg[/img]

How about a little experiment.

I'll take 3 - 50 cell trays and put one clove in each. Then fill these trays with maybe Coconut Coir. My normal mix is 50/50 Coir - Perlite. Should I go with this mix. Add lime?

Anyone have experience with this?
Should I drop in the cloves then fill or fill with soil, then push cloves in?
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicExperiment005.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicExperiment006.jpg[/img]

I'm looking mostly for root development and some green top. These 3 trays will be wintering over in my non-heated greenhouse.

Any thoughts welcome. :)

Eric
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It'll be interesting to see what happens! As for how to plant them, I would think you need some of you mix under the cloves so the roots have something to grow into, so I'd fill the cells and push them in.

Or maybe try both ways and see what they do?
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stella1751
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Being the member who was pleasantly surprised by an early Christmas present of a garlic variety I have long coveted, I have two concerns, other than my obvious inexperience with growing garlic: First, where would I put them? I don't have an unheated greenhouse.

They can either go in my unheated basement over the winter, which would mean they would probably do some growing, or I could put them in a tool cabinet I have that will dip to temperatures as low as, say -25.

My second concern is water. They will need water if they stay in the basement. Will they require water to stay alive if I stick them in the little tool cabinet? The temperatures up here can be variable during the winter. For example, we had -6 last week; this week we are forecast to see some highs in the 40's. Should I cover them with plastic to keep them from drying out?

I don't have cells like Eric, just some shallow rectangular planters.
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OROZCONLECHE
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My First time with Garlic just planted 4 in a big pot about 10 gallon one, and I must say they are growing so fast I am impressed, must had to do cuz the cloves had a little green leaf coming out already.
DoubleDogFarm
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So I went with the fill and press the cloves in idea. This is one of the 50 cell trays. You can just see the tips of some of the cloves.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicExperiment009.jpg[/img]

Into the unheated greenhouse they go.


Stella, I like the unheated basement idea. I would try not to let them dry out.

Eric
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GardenRN
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Like the experiments Eric!

Now......any brilliant ideas about what I can do with 30 12"x12" mirrors in/for the garden? lol I got them for free thinking..."there has to be SOMETHING cool can do with these....now, a year later, there they sit. Not being cool.
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stella1751
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GardenRN, I read somewhere that if you angle a mirror so it reflects the sun toward your tomatoes, they thank you with quicker production in the spring and early summer.

Those cells look so professional, Eric! I'm starting to consider starting my garlic in January or February. Those cloves should still be good then, and I could keep them in the house and not worry about forgetting to water them. The ground is generally workable by the beginning of April, so I could set out starts then.
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OROZCONLECHE
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Question, Ive been growing about 5-6 garlic and they are growing like crazy, but my question is, Do Garlic need Sun? I have a Piece of Yard in my North part of the House, and as Usual in the North part has No Sun at all, but Will my Garlic Grow there? or How much sun does Garlic Need?

[img]https://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/victororozco/2011-12-02124709.jpg[/img]
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rainbowgardener
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Garlic doesn't need full sun, does ok with part sun locations. But very little green does well with no sun.
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OROZCONLECHE
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Oh ok, and with perfect condition, what is the estimated time for harvest?
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gixxerific
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OROZCONLECHE wrote:Oh ok, and with perfect condition, what is the estimated time for harvest?
I plant in Oct and harvest in July - August.
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OROZCONLECHE
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Dang thats a long crop! well oh well, I planted some garlic but didnt realize how long it takes, and I'm going to move out soon in bout 2-3 months so that might just suck for me.
DoubleDogFarm
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I planted my Music garlic October 30th 2010 and harvested July 22nd 2011.

Perfect condition,

Sow between mid Sept to mid Nov. I like at least 6 hours of sun, but 8 would be better. Space 6" apart in all directions. Harvest mid July to the end of August.

All varies by location.

Eric
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Garlic does real well in a cold frame and probably does not grow only two months in the cold frame! You can plant itnow in a cold frame!
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gixxerific
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DDF are you going to growing these in the greenhouse or transplanting outside?
DoubleDogFarm
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Dono,

The garlic will either be sold - traded or transplanted out.


Eric
DoubleDogFarm
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Here are the 3 trays in the greenhouse. Photos taken on Dec 7th.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicStarts001.jpg[/img]

The garlic cloves are heaving out of the cells.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicStarts003.jpg[/img]

I pulled one out to check on progress
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicStarts002.jpg[/img]

From the last time I reset the high low thermometer, looks like a low of 31f and high of 65f.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Greenhouse%20Photos/GarlicStarts004.jpg[/img]

I'll check on the flats tomorrow. Dec 13th. If they continue to push themselves out of the trays, I will most likely move them to a larger container.

Eric
dustyrivergardens
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I have started garlic indoors till they start growing then put them out at the end of December and they did just fine I have done that with shallots to. So start them indoors let them get there roots going then set them out. Harden them off outside.


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