Anyone North of the 40th parallel plant garlic this year?

[keesmom]

You better believe I'm a LAZY gardener! Those full heads just stay in the ground and keep multiplying every year.

Absolutely! I have some that have been in the same spot for over a decade.

 

[Arielle]

Quote: I have to admit that my curiosity is over riding my embarassment to admit that I'm unclear about this planting/ production method. DO you thin them? Just take from the edges? WHat?

I'm thinking of a mass of day lily"bulbs" that multiply and entwine into a mass that needs digging up periodically and then thinly replanted in the same spot, with the "extras" used elsewhere.

 

[aart]

Quote: I have to admit that my curiosity is over riding my embarassment to admit that I'm unclear about this planting/ production method. DO you thin them? Just take from the edges? WHat?

I'm thinking of a mass of day lily"bulbs" that multiply and entwine into a mass that needs digging up periodically and then thinly replanted in the same spot, with the "extras" used elsewhere.
I'm curious too.

 

[lazy gardener]

I just dig a few clumps to use for the winter, leaving the rest in place. There's always plenty, b/c I let some of those scapes produce bulbils which fall to the ground and produce even more heads. The first year, they produce a single big clove which looks like an onion set. Then, they produce the typical head, and continue producing more heads if left in the ground. If I feel motivated, I divide a few bulbs, and plant a patch in the traditional method, but, that's not necessary, unless I'm re-designing my garden space and will be tearing out a bunch of those long standing clumps.

 

[aart]

What happens to the full heads after a year or two?
I would love to see a pic of one that had been in the ground for 2-3 years.

 

[lazy gardener]

They just keep multiplying. I can dig a clump that will be up to 8" across. It is composed of multiple heads, loosely clumped together with their roots inter-twined. When I harvest some next summer, I'll take a pic, as well as some pics of some good sized clumps in mid growth, and some maturing scapes.

 

[aart]

Do they send up multiple scapes then..on for each head?

Do any rot out from crowding?

 

[lazy gardener]

Never seen any rot. Usually one scape per head, but i don't really pay any attention. Just dig garlic as needed, ignore the rest. There's always plenty.

 

[keesmom]

Never seen any rot. Usually one scape per head, but i don't really pay any attention. Just dig garlic as needed, ignore the rest. There's always plenty.

Same here.

I will say I did not start out doing this intentionally. I just missed a couple of heads when harvesting. Next season they came back, and just kept multiplying over time. For me I find it convenient to have some available as needed all summer and fall.

 

[Indiana feather]

I would love to plant garlic too... we use garlic a lot and i even buy and take herbal combination of garlic, parsley and capsicum... Have to admit that I wasn't aware you planted it in the fall although that makes sense considering that is when you plant tulips, crocus and such... Always wondered why I've never seen garlic along with other herbs that are available in the spring... now I know. Every once in awhile the light bulb lights up..lol