Disclaimer: This post was originally posted by Hero Member, baileyj. This user is located in Zone 7A --- Annapolis, Maryland. This was originally posted on October 5, 2014.
Pnewport,)
Below I copied a post I made a few years ago when I first started growing garlic. I have grown it every year, except this past year (we were getting ready to move and I had so much left from the year before)
I no longer use a stocking for fertilizer, but do put in dolomite and fertilizer...I know John had said it is not needed but I am never sure which boxes I will be using so they are prepped already with the dolomite. You can see the configurations I use for shallots and Garlic--they grow great even if spaced close.
They really need nothing once the cold has set in, but the boxes should not be full of water. Mine grew one year all winter (it was an odd winter, very warm with virtually no snow) but once December set in I stop watering and resume in late February, or when they start growing again.
I had always thought I would need to cover them with a cold frame or plastic when the snow set in during the hard winters but they survived even through the snow....I was not sure they would grow if covered in snow but I have had at least 2-3 years where the boxes were covered in 6-12 inches of snow for a few weeks....
I also write the type of garlic in silver on the black cover for each if I am growing a few types so I know which ones I want to grow again....You think you will remember but it never seems to work for me....
It is colder where you are in zone 6 but your plan sounds like it should work. Are you planning on keeping the cover intact or cut with holes for each garlic bulb? I would cut the holes...
If it gets warm and they start growing then they will need to fill the reservoir.....and yes it will wick...
Garlic, shallots and leeks have been so rewarding for me to grow and I will continue to grow them each year. They keep well and are so much better than store bought. I love the varieties of Garlic you cannot get anywhere but a specialty store...unless you pay a fortune !
Good luck, I don't think you can miss. Let us know how it goes !
Judi
Re: EB garlic in northern zones?
? Reply #9 on: November 06, 2011, 01:07:53 PM ?
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Sorry I am so out of the loop on all this...
Mickie, I did use the cover, mixed the standard Dolomite and the stocking with fertilizer in the center. I then planted 8 on each side of the fertilizer strip in a bit of a zig-zag pattern so they could all have a bit more space without disrupting the fert. strip.
I watered up to about December, then tipped the water out so the reservoir was not full and left them.
I was planning to cover them with a plastic cover prior to the snow, but never got to it..
In about March they started to grow again, I took up watering again and were putting out seeds at the top in June. I then stopped watering again and late June pulled them. I did not do the braiding thing, but may this year. I left them to dry then into the fridge.
This year I have planted late (October 18) I planted 5 boxes, one elephant, 2 early white, 1 Russian Red, and 1 Music. They are all putting out green tops, although the early white are way ahead. I am watering them, but they are not taking up water.
I planted them the same as above with the covers and length wise stocking of fert.
The Elephant Garlic I did in a 5 pattern of config. like Broccoli.
XXX F XXX F XXX X X X X
Here is my config for the shallots: XXX F XXX F XXX Garlic: X X X X
XXX F XXX F XXX FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
X X X X
X X X X
Today I am putting in Shallots and I think I will try to put 27 in each box with 2 width wise channels of fert. I found a posting here by John...not sure how it worked, but I am up for it.....
I'll let you know how it goes. I am keeping all the boxes together so I can cover if I need to, but I am not sure I will need to. It is so sunny on that side and it may not need the cover to protect them. Undecided
...
Judi
Re: EB garlic in northern zones?
? Reply #10 on: November 07, 2011, 11:50:06 AM ?
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Hi Judi,
Good luck. Keep us posted. Many of our customers are interested in growing garlic....As a general rule, if your EarthBox has been used for a few growing seasons, there is no need to add the dolomite and fertilizer (at least for 1 growing season of garlic).
If you fall into this catagory, by all means plant 3 rows (24)....It works.
Here in zone 5, I always plant my cloves on November 1st. This year, my EarthBox garlic is outdoors:
1. Facing south, protected from the North-West winds
2. Removed 1/2 water from the reservoir
3. Removed casters and placed on asphalt
4. Installed 2 mulch covers before planting
