Garlic: Freeze, thaw, and heave

**donnainzone5** 12/3/2016, 6:11 pm

I just went out to check my garlic squares, only to find that three cloves had heaved to the surface--likely because of our fluctuating temps already this season.

On the bright side, the three had excellent root growth.

However, should I cover with mulch, such as partly composted leaf mold, or a basic two-way compost? I amended with 5+-way compost before I planted. And re-buried them today.

CapeCoddess 12/3/2016, 7:11 pm

Aw, bummer Donna. Sorry I can't help but I've haven't had that problem...yet. I'll be interested in seeing what others do in that situation just in case.

I do however leave the pine mulch on the box once I plant though, but it's on all year.
CC

**sanderson** 12/3/2016, 8:18 pm

Donna, I hope someone in Heave-thaw land can offer suggestions, but the mulch sounds appropriate.

**donnainzone5** 12/3/2016, 8:35 pm

Sanderson,

Oddly enough, I haven't had this problem before in my SFG.

Is it okay to add mulch before the ground freezes? Our temps are expected to go down to the low single digits Tuesday night, and I'll be out of town at that time.

**jimmy cee** 12/3/2016, 10:29 pm

donnainzone5 wrote:I just went out to check my garlic squares, only to find that three cloves had heaved to the surface--likely because of our fluctuating temps already this season.

On the bright side, the three had excellent root growth.

However, should I cover with mulch, such as partly composted leaf mold, or a basic two-way compost? I amended with 5+-way compost before I planted. And re-buried them today.

It's my opinion garlic that has moved the way you're describing hasn't been planted deep enough.Two inches below surface is recommended.
If this happened to mine, I would just cover with compost.
I am in zone 5 also

**Scorpio Rising** 12/3/2016, 11:13 pm

Yes, I would mulch with your leaves.

**llama momma** 12/4/2016, 9:48 am

Filaree garlic farm info--

"Apply a few inches of mulch such as chopped hay, leaves, or grass clippings. "

I've read elsewhere the reason for mulch is to prevent rapid freezing and heating.

**donnainzone5** 12/4/2016, 11:39 am

I did make every effort to plant the cloves 2" deep.... Could it also be that voles have been at work?

**sanderson** 12/4/2016, 1:23 pm

I finally got all of Donna's garlic moved!

Garlic - Garlic: Freeze, thaw, and heave Cartoo11

**donnainzone5** 12/4/2016, 1:28 pm

It probably should be "we." The front yard, which is a mere three years old, has recently become riddled with small bare patches and is somewhat bumpy.

Frost or voles? Who really knows?

**sanderson** 12/4/2016, 1:40 pm

Will you be putting hardware cloth under the beds? What an ordeal that would be.

**donnainzone5** 12/4/2016, 1:56 pm

Obviously, I can't do it with garlic already planted. However, my plan is to take up some or all of the remaining beds early in the spring, dig/pull, or otherwise assassinate the grass that keeps encroaching, and put down both hardware and new weed cloth.

It just started to snow a few minutes ago (as expected), and the week is supposed to be cold and stormy. Naturally, this is the week that I have to drive over one or both Cascade passes to pick up my Christmas tree from my cousin's farm in the Portland area.

bigdogrock 12/4/2016, 5:55 pm

I have seen this once, in a friend's garden. He plants very shallow, just below the surface (BTW- he always has great garlic crops) and he just put leaf mulch or grass clippings over them. Good luck!

**sanderson** 12/5/2016, 4:06 am

Donna, Be real careful driving in the snow.

**donnainzone5** 12/5/2016, 11:14 am

Thanks, Sanderson!

At least the garlic will be insulated.

I drive an Audi A4 Quattro (all-wheel drive), and just had a thorough servicing. I've driven both passes a few times, although not in drastic conditions.

My mother once dated a race-car driver, and imparted to me some of the tips she'd learned, before I even began to drive. And I do have limited experience driving in such conditions, being a skier, and all. Nevertheless, I know that anything can happen, so I'll be paranoid as heck on this trip.

**camprn** 12/8/2016, 7:05 am

Several inches of mulch will stabilize the soil temp and reduce heaving, which is caused by fluctuating soil.temps.

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