Does anyone have any experience with garlic? I ordered some and found out it was too hot down here in SC and read that it should be planted in fall. I left it unwrapped in a box and the bulbs still look good but the odor is getting really strong. Should I plant the bulbs anyway or just forget it and use them for cooking?
I’ve grown garlic, when I lived in Ohio.
If the cloves are soft and mushy, cook them and restart your garlic project in the fall.
If they still seem firm to you, plant them either on the north or east side of the house (to shield from afternoon heat). You prolly will not want to use these for cooking this season; but will be growing them for next season’s stock.
The point is, if they are starting to emit an odor, they are reaching their temperature limit. They need to get into cool soil, and fast. Once you plant them, be sure to mulch them.
Noting your location, most bulb type plants need to be planted in the fall. I plant shallots in late fall and have the fresh “onions” all during the winter. I remember having garlic on the farm, but we always planted them in late fall too.
You may want to use them if they are still firm and start some late in the fall. I tried to plant some garlic during the summer season and it all rotted before sprouting.
I’m NC. Probably not quite as hot, but anyway, I keep several garlics in pots all year around. If I let them go to seed, they “escape” and then I dig up the seedlings. Thus far, this has worked for me. Just did down in the pot a bit and see if anything is the right size to harvest.
I’ve planted society garlic with my roses. They both do fine.