Garlic Clove Viability

[Old_Geezer]

Have bought too many "seed" bulbs (well they were sold in pairs and I wanted to try a variety of varieties to compare and contrast) add to it the ones I'm intending to replant from last year as they didn't grow that large and ....

Anyway, if they are to be spaced out 6" from each other I've no chance of planting them all so:

Anyone know how long cloves remain viable ? I could split the lot into 2 and still be pushed for space, or 3 or more. But will those left on the shelf. Would they be ok when I wanted to use tham ? Not found an answer on the Web anywhere.

Cheers.

[Chipchopper]

I don't know the answer to your question but an alternative solution might be to grow the surplus cloves in pots, even indoors.
Plenty of info out there on the web.
Hope that's helpful

[woofgang]

The best way to store them is in a fridge. It might not work but they will dry out less than on a shelf

[Old_Geezer]

Cheers both.

They were grown in pots last year. Don't think I've enough, nor room to site them. I was tempted to use the raised bed I'm gradually removing the early potatoes from to plant almost half, but that still leaves the other half and the replants.

I only have a small "worktop" type fridge. Unsure I have the space to spare. I was thinking of keeping them in a cool (hopefully) garage.

(Also have a load of bulbils and hopefully seeds from last year too. I need a few industrial sized greenouses really ;-D)

[woofgang]

the thing with a fridge is that it has steady humidity.

[Old_Geezer]

Advice from the Garlic Farm. Apparently they should last about 6 months only, and advised not to split a bulb until about to plant. Unfortunate. Was hoping to plant some soon, some next autumn, and possibly the rest the following autumn. Perhaps I can have a garden filled with garlic ! Might keep the local cats at bay.

[retrocop]

I was going to advise giving the Garlic Farm a bell. I was there 2 weeks back. I was hoping to buy a East European Balkan variety. Forget the name. Supposed to be high strength. No joy alas. Black and elephant is all the trend now.

[Old_Geezer]

Last year I grew 'Red Duke' but the bulbs weren't that large at harvest time so I stored them to replant again this year. (I think it was the strongest variety they had.) Just unsure whether to plant them as bulbs or split them into small cloves. I did try to find some I think were called Topinsky but no joy. I may have been too late looking, or they may have been hype.