Etiolation of garlic shoots?

[crazy_red]

I've been so excited about watching my garlic sprouting that I think i've left it too long!

Next time I will be very disciplined and put them in the soil as soon as the roots have formed, I promise .

But with this batch, I was just so chuffed to have finally got the hang of sprouting it and watching the root system forming, I think I left them on the damp paper a bit too long and it wasn't light enough.

Now top shoots have suddenly appeared and shot up about 4" overnight My gardening book refers to this as etiolation, due to poor light conditions?

I know etiolation normally results in spindly, pale growth, cos I've had it happen wih flower seedlings, that I've sown too early, but these shoots are quite green and sturdy, so should I plant them with all this growth above the soil or bury it a bit?

Red x

[MaureenHall]

Oooooooooooh hark at her with her big words If you don't plant them, what's the alternative? I'd stick 'em in and keep fingers crossed. Maybe give them a bit of protection at first though as they've been started off indoors

[crazy_red]

Hee, hee, copied it out of the RHS gardening book, sounds a bit rude doesn't it

[snuffer]

Sorry crazy red, can't offer any real advice. Had to take a look at your thread in order to find out what etiolation is.

If it were up to me I would plant them at their normal planting depth and see what happens. No doubt someone better informed will be along soon and they'll be able to give better advice.

Sorry couldn't be of more help but at least Iv'e learned something.

[rustylady]

Plant them out! Garlic is hardy, so doesn't need to be kept indoors. I start mine in celltrays in the cold greenhouse. That way the roots start going straight into the little plug of compost all ready for planting.

[crazy_red]

Thanks Snuffer,

They have just gone 'leggy' and usually the books tell you to bury some of this top growth when you plant the seedlings -don't know if this applies to garlic tho', cos I've never grown veg before

[Snadger]

Garlic is usually planted deep.........maybe 2 inches but I have planted 5 inches deep and still got reasonable results. The corm needs to be buried.

If you have grown them indoors though you will have to harden them off before planting out as the shock could kill them!

[cupcake]

I shall note that word down and bring it into a conversation this week!

[FionaH]

I checked this thread just to find out what that word meant! Plant them up would be my advise Red

[crazy_red]

Thanks peeps!

I think it's an ace word

Garlic going into pots, planted a bit deeper to take into account extra top stuff

[zazen999]

I found a few garlics that had sprouted when we dug out our compost heap, they were definitely etiolated. They got popped in one of the beds and are doing very well now.

My general theory is that everything is so unpredictable [except the slugs], just chuck it in and see what happens.

[Alice]

I'm not sure why you were sprouting them on paper Red. Garlic can just go straight in the ground. But now that you've got all that etiolated stuff it will be very soft and die of shock if you stick it outside. I think you have to hope for warmer weather and try hardening it off, starting with under fleece, before planting out.
Or can you plant it into pots and keep in greenhouse or something and plant out in March.
I plant mine outdoors in November. Hope it works out for you. Do let us know how it gets on.

[wellie]

Cupcake. Try this one at the next Drinks Party you get invited to:

"Ooh! Canapes, how lovely! Have you any Garlic ones? MY Garlic got terribly etiolated this year, did yours?"

The look on their faces has GOT to be worth it, surely

[Flummery]

I shall note that word down and bring it into a conversation this week!

Easy word to use. HeyWayne isn't tall, he's etiolated.

[crazy_red]

Originally by Alice:

I'm not sure why you were sprouting them on paper Red.

Hi Alice - I haven't got any soil yet and i've only got limited room in my greenhouse, so I wanted to make sure to plant only the cloves that were going to be most likely to grow

I will put the pots in the greenhouse and hope Santa brings me a sledful of nice sandy loam ... and maybe a few elves to help me shift it ...