Garlic
InTheMoorlands
Posts: 141
in Fruit & veg
These were planted late last year and initially kept outside. Moved into a heated greenhouse just before Xmas. I've trimmed the dead leaves off them but they don't seem to be doing anything. I've not grow these before so I just wondered if it was just a question of waiting:
At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines. Clay soil.
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I think you need to be patient and give yours time to grow and, maybe, put it outside in a sunny spot where the extra light should help. They are planted very close so don't expect fat bulbs.
For various reasons I didn't get my garlic planted in December or January as I usually do and it has only recently gone in the ground with a trowel length between cloves and about 40cms between rows. When I ran out of space I planted the leftover cloves in a window box in the polytunnel.
The ones in the ground are still hiding as it has turned cold and wet but the ones in the warmth are already 4cm high and looking sturdy. I'll be using them as a cut and come again leaf crop rather than expecting bulbs to form.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
As for your garlic, it may be possibe to plant it out in a bed or space it in bigger pots but it usually needs a period of cold to encourage the cloves to form so put yours outside and see if that helps. If not, just keep it in, or handy for, the kitchen and use it as a cut and come again crop. Just don't cut too low down as it needs some green to keep it growing.
"We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
1. To be able to read.
2. Be able to follow simple instructions.
Here is a guide on how to do it: https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/garlic/grow-your-own
The stuff you bought is very likely Spanish, so feeling the cold at the moment. Give it time. Even if it was 'proper' cold climate suitable stuff, it wouldn't be ready until June at the earliest. It needs cold to start, heat later to develop flavour, just the right amount of water - it can be quite touchy. I get huge variations in the quality of the harvest, depending on the weather.
I'd agree with others who said to plant it out if you have somewhere that doesn't get waterlogged to put it. I'm a lot further south but high up, so it does get (and stay) cold here and it is very wet. I think the garlic is OK with the cold but not keen on the wet. Even so, it is actually relatively hungry, so in your pot they may be too close together to develop well.
I'm going to plant 'spring' planting garlic this weekend. If you've got somewhere to do it, I'd suggest you try to plant those out in the next 2 or 3 weeks.
InTheMoorlands
It is that simple, I don't know where you read to plant Supermarket garlic, nor put them in a heated greenhouse. Both the guide I showed you and this: https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-garlic/
State specifically not to use it.
Read the guides, plant some Spring garlic and try an over Winter type in November by following what they say do.
And yes, you should have one clove per pot, then you can grow it on in there.
It isn't really like learning to fly or drive. If you don't take any notice of advice when you do that you'll kill yourself and/or other people.
It's unlikely you'll achieve that growing garlic, but you never know!