Can my Garlic be saved?

November 7, 2009 9:01 AM

I planted several garlic bulbs a month ago, expecting frost, but the weather has warmed up and now they've sprouted. Can my garlic bulbs be saved?

Is there anything I can do to keep them around until spring? Covering them with dirt? Or should I just accept that I learned a lesson and move on?

posted by drezdn to home & garden (4 comments total)

Where are you? Do you have warm winters?
posted by Iron Rat at 9:35 AM on November 7

I live in Colorado, and put garlic bulbs in the dirt in early fall. You are supposed to dig them up the next fall, when the tops fall over. But, I have on occasion been lazy and not dug them up, or just missed some .... they just stay there and start a new cycle. They can get a little "wild" if you do this, as in they concentrate on making babies (you get smaller bulbs with baby bulb "buds" instead of nice, large bulbs).
Dirt on top won't hurt them, it will act as mulch. I dont think your garlic will suffer over this.
posted by bebrave! at 9:49 AM on November 7

I'm in Milwaukee, WI.

bebrave! I wouldn't mind baby bulb buds.
posted by drezdn at 4:44 PM on November 7

Last fall I planted garlic earlier than I should've. It sprouted well before the ground froze. I piled a foot or so of fallen tree leaves on top of it, held down with a few sticks. We had a pretty severe winter for our area, with temps as low as minus 15F. The garlic was fine.
posted by jon1270 at 4:51 PM on November 7