Is it to late to plant garlic?

[opiemaster]

Well I decided I wanted to try garlic this year, so I bought some on Ebay on Sept. 16th, well there was a mixup and they were not shipped, I will more than likely get them this week, is it to late? In Sept. we were still getting warm days in the mid 80's and nights in the 60's now its highs in the 60's lows in the mid 40's with cooler nights coming. I live south of Kansas City Mo. I was realy wanting to try it this year. I hope its not to late.

 

[bid]

I don't think it is too late. As a matter of fact I am working on getting my garlic in today. You may be a couple weeks later than optimal for your area, but I think they will be fine.

 

[wifezilla]

I also need to plant some today. I guess we will all know next spring if we waited too long

 

[jojo54]

I don't think it should be too late. You don't want it to do too much in the fall. Several years ago I planted in October and we had nice weather until the end of November and the garlic grew a fair bit. When the cold weather came, I think it had grown too much and it did not survive. I now cover my garlic with leaves, hay or straw - whatever I have available. It seems to protect the garlic and it still grows up through in the spring.

 

[bills]

Lillooet can get very cold some winters! I suffered through a few cold days up in that area a few times..

I plant garlic in the fall, October is fine in warmer climes.

I am not very impressed with the size of my cloves harvested in the spring. I wonder what's missing in my soil? Leeks are terrible as well. I suspect there is some imbalance that stops them from getting larger.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'm a little south of you. When I order garlic, the shipping date for my area is September 30. You'll probably do fine planting garlic now.

 

[vfem]

Sounds perfect to me, mine will be going in about thursday if the shipping info in my mail is correct! Now worries you should have a beautiful crop to harvest next summer. :tools

 

[jojo54]

Lillooet can get very cold some winters! I suffered through a few cold days up in that area a few times..

I plant garlic in the fall, October is fine in warmer climes.

I am not very impressed with the size of my cloves harvested in the spring. I wonder what's missing in my soil? Leeks are terrible as well. I suspect there is some imbalance that stops them from getting larger.

What kind of garlic are you planting? I try to plant the biggest cloves and don't bother planting the smaller cloves. Could you be trying to harvest to soon? You said spring but most people seem to wait until July or so.

 

[opiemaster]

Thanks for all that info. I wonder if I should ferdilize the area before I plant them there, its a new spot behind the house I am trying just for my garlic. :/ or what kind of ground prep does anyone else do for there garlic?

 

[Ridgerunner]

If it is a new spot, I'd turn it and try to remove all the grass roots that I could. Garlic does not handle competition real well. Then I would dig in some compost and set the garlic. I don't know what type of soil you have (sand, clay, loam) but I would not mix in any fertilizer now. I'd think most of it will probably leach away before the garkic needs it in the spring. Once it is up good and before a good freeze, I mulch mine to protect it.