Looking to overwinter my garlic, again. First time failed for unknown reasons, but likely critters as it was a different style of raised bed that was exposed.
This time I'm trying it in my cold frame. It stays about 7 degrees warmer while it's in the shade and can get up to 15 degrees warmer when the sun is on it. I intend on putting the garlic on a 36" planter with some fresh raised bed soil and covering it with pine needles for insulation and to make the soil slightly more acidic.
I'm in Zone 6b in New England and planning on planting this weekend. Anything I should look out for or do different? How often should I water it? Any advice is appreciated!
Thanks in advanced! Looking forward to trying my hand again this season!
by Architect401
5 Comments
What are you trying to accomplish here? Just plant the bulbs in the dirt you dont need some fancy cover to warm your garlic as it normally is planted in the ground this time of year and overwinter under the snow and frozen ground just fine and sprouts in the spring. If you want to mulch your garlic with leaves or straw that’s fine but this cold frame setup is highly unnecessary and definitely not recommended for garlic.
Not understanding why you’re trying to keep the the temps up.
Garlic requires 40 days below 40° to break into bulbs.
You also needed to plant it September 1st. You lost 2 feet of root growth and significant plant establishment that is needed by now for garlic to do well.
Don’t expect a lot of results this late in the season no matter how you plant it. But this is completely unnecessary and if anything worse than getting in a garden bed in the ground.
If garlic doesn’t have enough hours of cold, then it won’t head up.
how cold does it get where you live? Garlic is insanely cold hardy. Like -20F and colder. You dont need a cold frame.
But….why?