Is It Normal for My Overwintering Garlic to Sprout?
Asked by GardenerJoe42
I planted some Solent Wight garlic cloves about a week ago for overwintering, as I heard this was the best time. However, I've noticed that almost all of them have sprouted. Should I be worried about this? Is it okay to leave them as they are? We've had mild weather here in the UK lately.
Answers
You're in good shape! It's actually a plus for garlic to start sprouting before the frost. Last year mine was a foot tall by the first snowfall, and they all made it through just fine. If you want, though, adding a layer of leaves or compost can give them extra protection, especially if winters get really cold where you are.
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It's totally normal for garlic to sprout early like that! Just let them be; they'll develop some leaves and roots now and kick into high gear once spring arrives. A little mulch can help them over the winter, but they’re really low-maintenance plants.
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FirstTimeGarlicGrower: Oh, that’s reassuring! I was worried since I’m growing garlic for the first time in northern Germany, and a few of mine have sprouted too.