Warm winter, garlic sprouting

pmcgrady · January 3, 2016

Have 800 cloves in the ground, most are coming up, some up to 4 inches thru straw compost....
I'm thinking a bad cold snap could cut this crop in half... Due to this warm weather growth, any garlic guys? Thoughts?

taboule · January 3, 2016

I started garlic for the first time ever this past fall, more than 1/2 of mine also came out, up to 6 in leaves. Now everything is covered with ice.

My understanding (from reading and research) is not to worry, the garlic is already established with good roots. The leaves will freeze and new ones will develop in the spring.

Would like to hear others' perspective and experience.

Worth1 · January 3, 2016

It should be fine.
You don't even want to know what mine looks like.

Worth

Father'sDaughter · January 3, 2016

I've read it won't make a difference.

I've also read it will make for smaller heads/bulbs next year.

And I've read that if it will only have a negative effect if it grows and freezes back twice during one winter.

Mine grew about 4-6 inches before last week's snow and ice storm killed the top growth. At this point whatever happens, happens.

Spike2 · January 3, 2016

I also have garlic and walking onions sprouting. I have my fingers crossed that this weirdo weather doesn't damage them.

RayR · January 4, 2016

The warmer weather also allowed them to grow a bigger root system, that's the important part. As long as the roots are heathy and insulated by the soil and snow cover is good too, the top growth will regrow just fine in the spring.

Tormato · January 5, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Father'sDaughter

I've read it won't make a difference.

I've also read it will make for smaller heads/bulbs next year.

And I've read that if it will only have a negative effect if it grows and freezes back twice during one winter.

Mine grew about 4-6 inches before last week's snow and ice storm killed the top growth. At this point whatever happens, happens.

...whatever happens, happens. And, I didn't let the green shoots go to waste. So, I had a few tuna melts with various alliums mixed in...all the way up to that first winter storm. It was good while it lasted.

KC.Sun · January 5, 2016

My garlic also sprouted. The snow and 0 degree weather doesn't seem to have bothered it. It's still green when the snow melts.

PhilaGardener · January 5, 2016

I'm not taking them in now!

dustyrivergarden · January 5, 2016

Your garlic will be fine... It won't bother them at all.....

Father'sDaughter · January 5, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tormato

...whatever happens, happens. And, I didn't let the green shoots go to waste. So, I had a few tuna melts with various alliums mixed in...all the way up to that first winter storm. It was good while it lasted.

Darn! I knew they were going to die eventually, but it never crossed my mind to prematurely end their lives in such a tasty way...

pmcgrady · January 5, 2016

Planted 600 cloves last year...
Maybe 8 varieties, we didn't mark which was which,
Had a couple entire rows....varieties killed/died off from the cold winter,
Just the opposite this year,so far.
This year all varieties are marked

imp · January 7, 2016

Have a small plot of elephant garlic and kettle river put in, all with green shoots and doing great. I'm looking forward to the harvest of some good garlics!

Worth1 · January 7, 2016

My garlic.
Worth
IMG_20160107_40637.jpg

taboule · January 7, 2016

Worth, are you sure these are not leeks?

;-)

January 3, 2016	#1
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	Warm winter, garlic sprouting Have 800 cloves in the ground, most are coming up, some up to 4 inches thru straw compost.... I'm thinking a bad cold snap could cut this crop in half... Due to this warm weather growth, any garlic guys? Thoughts?

January 5, 2016	#10
dustyrivergarden Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Holbrook, Az zone 5 Posts: 157	Your garlic will be fine... It won't bother them at all..... __________________ “The yield of a crop is LIMITED by the deficiency of any one element even though all of the other necessary elements are present in adequate amounts”. J. Von Liebig's law of the minimum.

January 7, 2016	#15
taboule Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: MA Posts: 903	Worth, are you sure these are not leeks? ;-) Last edited by taboule; January 9, 2016 at 12:01 PM. Reason: to correct the overly dry humor

January 3, 2016	#3
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	It should be fine. You don't even want to know what mine looks like. Worth

January 3, 2016	#4
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,917	I've read it won't make a difference. I've also read it will make for smaller heads/bulbs next year. And I've read that if it will only have a negative effect if it grows and freezes back twice during one winter. Mine grew about 4-6 inches before last week's snow and ice storm killed the top growth. At this point whatever happens, happens.

January 3, 2016	#5
Spike2 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: NE Ohio Posts: 992	I also have garlic and walking onions sprouting. I have my fingers crossed that this weirdo weather doesn't damage them.

January 4, 2016	#6
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,464	The warmer weather also allowed them to grow a bigger root system, that's the important part. As long as the roots are heathy and insulated by the soil and snow cover is good too, the top growth will regrow just fine in the spring.

January 5, 2016	#8
KC.Sun Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: 6a Posts: 322	My garlic also sprouted. The snow and 0 degree weather doesn't seem to have bothered it. It's still green when the snow melts.

January 5, 2016	#9
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	I'm not taking them in now!

January 7, 2016	#13
imp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Wichita Falls, Texas Posts: 4,832	Have a small plot of elephant garlic and kettle river put in, all with green shoots and doing great. I'm looking forward to the harvest of some good garlics!