Help! Did I order the wrong Garlic Variety?

14 years ago

I ordered my garlic seed for this falls planting. I intended to buy Early Italian Purple (softneck) but I was up late (as I am now) and accidentally purchased Italian Purple (hardneck). I am in SE North Carolina and everything I am reading says that this variety will not do well here. The farmer's Almanac is calling for a cold winter this year and I was thinking of trying it anyway. (Yes, I follow the Almanac - My Mom swore by it) I have considered refrigerating the seed before planting, but I am just not sure if that will help for fall planting. If I do it, I was thinking 6 weeks of refrigeration and then planting on Nov. 3-4 in my raised garden bed. (Almanac again). Any advice? Am I wasting precious garden space even trying?

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Comments (4)

don_licuala
13 years ago
How did it go?
MaPooh
Original Author
13 years ago
I did end up refrigerating the hardneck purple Italian for two weeks before planting. I planted those, the soft neck purple Italian, and polish white. all three are growing identically and very well. They all have large green tops now. I should know more about bulb size by mid summer when we harvest them.
As far a drainage there is plenty. We have very sandy soil here and that was more mixed with compost and rabbit manure when I made the beds two years ago. I grew beans there last year so it should gave nitrogen too.
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MaPooh
Original Author
13 years ago
I did end up refrigerating the hardneck purple Italian for two weeks before planting. I planted those, the soft neck purple Italian, and polish white. all three are growing identically and very well. They all have large green tops now. I should know more about bulb size by mid summer when we harvest them.
As far a drainage there is plenty. We have very sandy soil here and that was more mixed with compost and rabbit manure when I made the beds two years ago. I grew beans there last year so it should gave nitrogen too.
MaPooh
Original Author
13 years ago
I did end up refrigerating the hardneck purple Italian for two weeks before planting. I planted those, the soft neck purple Italian, and polish white. all three are growing identically and very well. They all have large green tops now. I should know more about bulb size by mid summer when we harvest them.
As far a drainage there is plenty. We have very sandy soil here and that was more mixed with compost and rabbit manure when I made the beds two years ago. I grew beans there last year so it should gave nitrogen too.