Garlic query

[Skotch]

Hi there

I bought some Solent Wight garlic (6 bulbs for £6 + free postage from an EBay supplier). I believe they are a softneck variety. When is a good time to plant them? From what I've been reading, some people have already planted their garlic. I thought they could wait until November, or should I get them into the ground now? Is there any difference in when to plant out softneck and hardneck garlic varieties?

As a supplementary question/statement, earlier this year I planted a whole load of cloves of an indeterminate variety of garlic bought in a small nursery. Only about 4 bulbs emerged from that exercise (out of some 30 planted) which led me to wonder if it was all worth it at all. Anyway, on the plot yesterday, I noticed a whole load of germinated leaves from where I had originally planted the garlic earlier this year. Given the early start these cloves have had, will they be alright, or just go to seed (Isn't garlic a biennual)?

[northepaul]

Hello Skotch, I can possibly help you with some of your queries.
Softneck variety garlic are good keepers - so if you plait them they will last a long time. However some people reckon the taste is not as good. Hardneck are stronger flavoured but wont store very well.
So I would say if you are planning on eating all your garlic all at once, them go for hardnecks but if you want to keep them, then go for softnecks.

I would usually suggest planting now, but the weather is a bit mad, so perhaps wait until the end of the month. (ie if it stays very hot the cloves may get confused and bolt)
Your earlier sowings of garlic, were they just ordinary ones from the supermarket? If so, that may explain the irratic germination - possibley the garlic was grown in another country with a different temperature and weather etc.

Hope thats useful

[Florence Fennel]

I'm hoping I haven't planted too early, I usually wait until November, but put them in on 22nd September. They are already about an inch high, so I'm a bit worried they may bolt. Oh this bothersome weather.

[Pies]

Bolting garlic are not a problem, softnecks dont bolt and when the hardnecks send up their flower stalk,which they will do. Snap it of and eat the top bit, the bit above the bulge,in a stir fry.It will have no effect on the storage

[Florence Fennel]

Cheers Pies. I've had the scapes before, I'd just forgotten.

[Skotch]

Thanks for your response - I reckon I will wait until the weather settles back into its 'normal' pattern