Kitchen Garden Forum

Hello All

I've used the "search" function and found information in a few different places to answer my question, but I just want give you my thoughts and see whether you think I've got it right (or not!). I'd rather try to do it this way than simply ask a question. Maybe it's just me but I think I learn more this way.

My garden is still very wet. Today it is frozen solid as well. Once the frosts stop being quite so regular and providing it doesn't rain too much, it will drain fairly quickly and I shall be able to get on it and dig it over. But who knows when that will be? My garlic and shallot sets arrived today. Clearly I can't plant them outside at the moment. Even with good weather I can't see this being possible for at least a month. I have a greenhouse in which there is space (just) for me to put them into 3" pots and get them going before planting them out later, as soon as the soil allows. I think this will be better than trying to store the bulbs until they can be planted outside. What do you think?

If I do put them in pots in the GH should I keep them dryish? I could put them on capillary matting but would this be too moist at this time of the year?

Thanks in advance

Regards

Ian

I'd pop them in pots in the greenhouse. Our garlic was planted in small pots last October and is now shooting - for ages it never moved. You can do the same with your shallot sets.

Neither need to be kept very wet just checking now and then to make sure they don't dry out too much.

Thanks for the reply. They are now in the GH in pots. The compost was fairly damp so I haven't watered them in. I'll need to keep an eye on them mind because, despite it being below freezing now (4-30pm) with a freezing mist off the sea, it was shirtsleeves in the GH whilst potting them. Although the air gets up to early 20's C, it's only for a very short time and the compost remains cold.

Thanks again

Ian

Garlic needs a period of very cold weather so it will set cloves. Our garlic has been in the cold greenhouse all through the December freeze.
Shallots are hardy too so I wouldn't worry about the cold - just don't be te,pted to overwater them

Did as suggested. Both the garlic and the shallots have put roots out through the bottom of 3" pots on capillary matting in a greenhouse which has not had any heat since they were potted. Temperatures between 25C in the sun and 2C at night sometimes, though generally not below 5C. I've now managed to prepare the bed they are to go in and I could put them in, which would give me some much-needed space in the greenhouse. The bed is still cold though not too wet. Can I put them in? My thoughts are that since both garlic and shallots could have been planted outside well before now and are both fairly hardy, I should be OK. My only worry is that they may be a bit "soft" having rooted in the GH.

What thoughts?

Regards

Ian

Hi Ian,
I would put your mind at rest. The temperatures experienced by your plants in a cold greenhouse are virtually those outside the greenhouse and all you have done is get your plants out of the burning influence of old Jack Frost and the other inclement traits. Grown like they are they will be fine when planted out and today being 1st March means that unless the soil has not yet dried out a bit by this weekend it will be perfect for planting out.
JB.

Thanks for the reassurance. Lovely weather up here - sunny days but just about frost at night. The open ground is drying out nicely. I'll put the garlic and shallots in over the next few days.

Regards

Ian