GARLIC help Needed

[tentfire]

I have never had any luck planting/growing garlic. One year, a couple of years ago, I finally got it to come up, it was looking really nice (in a pot half buried in the ground), but then it disappeared. I learned today that mice and squirrels will dig it up. If that is the case, I am doomed, as I have a lot of squirrels that are pretty tame and stubborn when they want something.

I also learned this week that the garlic in the grocery store (what I had been using to plant) is doused with an anti-sprouting chemical, making it a bad choice for planting. I am figuring that was the biggest part of my problem (and I definitely don't want to eat that stuff, ewwww). So I want to try to grow garlic again this year, with the right garlic. I have been searching all over online and it seems all the good stuff is sold out and are taking orders for next year! I found one place that might be good but they don't have much left, either. Before I order any, does anyone have any tips, pointers and/or suggestions? THANKS!!

[olhillbilly]

I never heard of anything diggin it up, but then what do I know. I thought only us humans dug that stuff up?

But, if sumpthin is digging it up, Ya mite try staking a wire cage or basket over it. Sumpthin with small enuff mesh that the lil rodents cant get thru.

[tentfire]

That's a good idea! I do that with a lot of things around here, but didn't think any critter would like garlic enough to bother it! I thought it would repel most critters. Turns out squirrels and other rodents supposedly like it, along with dogs.

I decided to check one more place around here before I bit the bullet and ordered online. I called a friend that works at our local, year-round fruit and produce market. I didn't see any the last time I was in there, but I thought I would call just in case I over-looked it. They have it!! Yea!!! And MUCH CHEAPER than I can get it online, PLUS it is a variety proven to grow well in our area. Now, to manage to get there tomorrow before they sell out of it.

[gonecatfishing]

Had never heard of animals eating it...We grew it all the time in South Texas and when it was ready it was dug and then braided to hang for keeping till ready to use....

[famfish]

You might want to sprinkle some dried blood meal around the garlic area and nothing will bother it and the blood is good for its growth!

[buzzard]

My folks grow garlic up at their place and they got a ton of squirrels, gophers and deer up there along with all the other animals running around. They've never had any garlic dug up by any of them. And they been growing it for 30 years up there. Now the iris were another thing. Supposedly deer don't like it, and well yeah, they didn't eat it, but one year they pulled up over 100 plants along the circle drive at my folks. I thought my dad was gonna go out and shoot them all. They didn't eat it, just pulled it up and left each one laying by the hole they pulled it from. And yep, it was deer that done it cause you could see their hoof prints.

[beeginner]

I think the problem in this case is the wrong garlic seeds. They should be seeds, not grocery store garlic. Grocery store garlic is often irradiated, as many other things in the grocery store, to kill anything living in it, so it can sit on the shelf longer.
As well, the best time to plant garlic is in the fall, not spring, although they have some spring varieties as well, but they never grow as well as the fall ones. I usually plant garlic in October, but depending on your climate, you might want to do it in September. Garlic needs time to develop roots before cold weather comes. If your winter is very cold, I would suggest to mulch garlic with leafs, straw, or anything organic you might have handy.
Garlic is an easy plant to grow. I am sure you will be successful with it. All the best.