Hi, I've never grown garlic, but you can start off your plants by putting a complete bulb onto a Hyacinth glass, the roots will start to grow, and when they get to about 1-2", separate the cloves and plant in the usual way, and give them a good watering, keep moist until you're satisfied they're settled into the soil, then treat in the normal way, Derek.

Are you buying supermarket garlic that's been grown in warmer climes to plant?

No, Darren8. It is from garden centres, mainly online at the moment. At the moment I have: White Casablanca, Solent Wight and Early Purple. I had Marco last time along with Solent Wight.

Do you start them in fresh, bought-in compost each year? I've been reading a lot about soil fungi recently so I may be chasing my own tail but adding a couple of handfuls to each watering can of soil from where you grow root veg to water in when planting may help kick start the soil microbes. But then again starting them a few weeks earlier to get a warm headstart may be helpful. Or you're packing them in too close.

https://www.gardenfocused.co.uk/vegetable/garlic.php

To me, garlic is treated like any other bulb. I don't get the soaking bit. What would that do? Sounds like folly. Of course you always want to start with firm, clean, healthy bulbs. Discard anything moldy or mushy. Just plant them. Like a pet goldfish, they grow in proportion to how much space they have. For bigger bulbs, you need bigger pots with drainage holes and a longer growing season. Don't crowd them together. If you want gigantic bulbs, try the elephant garlic. It is amazing!

I think the baking soda is an anti-fungal agent, but you are throwing those bulbs into the garbage. Let's keep it safe. The seaweed is an excellent fertilizer - for once they start growing and actually have roots.

Thanks as usual for your interest and all your suggestions. I think I will give the soaking a miss. I haven't actually come across anyone who does this, hence my posting. I'll try the elephant garlic, Bathgate but I believe it is quite mild and I like strong garlic. Thanks again, everyone!

The Germidour variety looks good.

Thanks again, Darren8. Just to answer your previous query, I grow them in containers with fresh compost each time.

Sorry if I'm getting boring Joan☺, I just struggled through a book called 'Teaming with Fungi'. It was a bit of an eye-opener.
Fresh bags of bought-in compost have often been heat treated to kill pathogens then have fertiliser with high levels of phosphate added. Both those things are not conducive to the ways that natural soil should work.
To get a more natural microbiome in containers you need to add a couple of trowels of soil from under trees, from a good compost heap, a worm farm, etc. Then avoid fertilisers with high levels of phosphate. It's tricky with container growing though...

Sorry, Darren8, I didn't see your last entry so I apologise if you thought you really were getting boring!