So Just How Hardy is Garlic?

[skeeter9]

Hubby and I had to completely dig up and move our 4x8 raised planters due to massive roots from a nearby tree (note to self: make sure raised planters are far away from trees!). One of the planters contained garlic that I planted last fall. Before digging them all up, I moved a little dirt from around that base of the green top growth and it didn't look like much was going on, so we took the plunge and dug them up to move them. It didn't take long to realize that there were significant root masses underneath these things (I'm talking about garlic roots), so now we'ver got about 20 or so balls of garlic roots with green tops on them. My question is: do these things actually survive transplanting if you disturn them at this time in their growth, or did I just kill all of my garlic? Sheesh! If it's not one thing it's another. . . .

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've never transplanted garlic like that, but I seriously doubt you've killed it. There is a chance it may not produce as well as it would have if it had not been transplanted, but I expect you to still get garlic from it.

I plant it in the fall and it usually shuts down in the winter until the weather warms up, so mine is often not growing until about now anyway. I don't think moving it is a good thing but you may not have hurt it as much as you think.

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I think it would be similar to transplanting onions. I transplant onions into the garden all the time. You might loose some but I think the majority should be alright.

 

[desertcat]

Garlic appears to be one of the hardiest plants I've found. In the drought last smmer, mine appeared to have died. When I was reworking the area for planting this year, I piled several shovelfuls of dirt off to the side to have room for new soil. Guess what I have growing in my dirt pile? Shouldn't have a shortage this year!

 

[skeeter9]

Sounds like maybe there's hope. We will keep our fingers and toes crossed! It would be nice if they would do ok since we use so much garlic, but if not, there's always next year.