Need help with Garlic planting timing

15 years ago

Here's my quandary:

There's an opportunity for me to plant several varieties of softnecks in a couple weeks (early March). However, as the usual line of thought is to plant garlic in the fall, I would likely get smaller bulbs at harvest this summer. Then, (since smaller cloves planted equals smaller bulbs harvested) planting those harvested cloves this coming fall would likely give me smaller bulbs harvested the following summer. And then, since those would be harvested smaller next summer, then if those are planted they would be smaller the subsequent summer . . . . etc., etc., etc.

In other words, are spring planted bulbs doomed to be smaller in perpetuity if subsequently planted/harvested in later years?

Is it ever possible to grow spring-planted bulbs (with good soil and heavy feeding) to the size of fall-planted ones?

What cultivars are especially likely to grow well with a spring planting?

Thanks in advance.

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Comments (4)

urbanscoot
15 years ago
I am starting my first garden this year and would also like to try planting garlic in the spring to see if I can get any this year. I would imagine that planting early won't alter the genetics, and that planting some of this fall's harvest should produce 'normal' size bulbs the following year.

I missed the window for ordering from Fedco for this spring (plus I was surprised at the cost of garlic). I am looking for farmer's markets in hopes of finding some hard neck garlic that has not been treated to retard sprouting. Expecting that it should be less expensive, plus I like the idea of buying it from an actual farmer who grows it him(/her)self, and should be better able to answer questions on whether it was treated.
Redpine
15 years ago
"In other words, are spring planted bulbs doomed to be smaller in perpetuity if subsequently planted/harvested in later years?"

No. Bulb size and clove size is dependent upon growing season, sunlight and nutrients. Spring planted garlic, the bulb size will stabilize after a couple years to be about 1/2 to 2/3 of the size of fall-planted garlic.

If that garlic was then planted in the fall, it would return to its normal size the next year.

"Is it ever possible to grow spring-planted bulbs (with good soil and heavy feeding) to the size of fall-planted ones?"

Generally no. Fall-planted garlic grows in the fall and early winter under the snow and the roots continue to grow under ground through the winter. Spring planted garlic grows for a much shorter length of time, so the bulbs will be smaller.

"What cultivars are especially likely to grow well with a spring planting?"

Most large cultivars will grow well spring-planted. For example, German Extra Hardy normally will have a bulb-size of 3 to 4 inches if fall planted. Spring planted, bulb size is often 2 inches or so.
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seysonn
15 years ago
Plant them as soon as the soil is not solid frozen. This way they will get a taste of cold and will dig in and get ready.
My fall planted garlics are about a foot tall, the stems are as thick as my small finger(1/2 inch dia or more).
heavyoilguy
15 years ago
I startd some garlic 2nd week of Feb underlights in my basement. I have transplanted into 6" pots and have moved out to the greenhouse ( we still have a foot of snow yet )they are approx the thickness of my finger and about 18" tall . I will transplant once the weather warms up. Hopefully the bulbs will get to be a nice size, since we get -40 to -45 Celcius I don't know if they would handle a fall planting