Are you growing from seed or from set Pamsco? I assume if seed then you will be starting things under glass anyway and the alium family is very hardy. If sets (or in the case of garlic, bulbs) then the garlic actually needs at least a month or two at near zero temperatures. I know we probably have milder winters than you round here but I shall certainly be putting garlic in before Christmas. My shallots, which I only once tried from seed and it wasn't very successful so I now use sets, I shan't put in until early spring but I don't think they will come to much harm if you must have an early crop. As usual with early planted stuff though, I find that you gain very little. Others may disagree and I wouldn't argue but I think this is a case of paying your money and taking.......

Thanks Sarraceniac, it is sets and cloves. I was going to experiment with some planted this month and some in early spring. Just to see whet works best.

I'd hold off until tomorrow but that is because growing by the moon you wouldn't work on roots today.

Good thinking Pamsco. That way you will know what is best in your area for future years.

Moon grower, since when have aliums been root vegetables? Sorry, that sounds facetious and isn't meant to be but seriously do people that grow by moon phases class them as roots? I'm interested (but not really in moon growing).

I assume that you already have the sets, Pam, so I would get on and plant them at this time of year - tomorrow as Moongrower says for us.
We have actually stopped planting things like this in our garden in Moray because we find that the winter weather is such that there is little, if any, benefit. I would certainly advise leaving space in the garden for a spring planting and, as you are doing, experiment and see what works for you.

Hi Sarraceniac in any four year crop rotation alliums (liliaceae) are classed as 'root vegetables' whether you grow by the moon or not. In fact one of the standard ways of deterring carrot root fly is to grow your onions/garlic in rows between your carrots.

I suppose that onions etc fall into 'root crops' by default. In a standard four course rotation you have potatoes, brassicas, legumes and roots. Onions certaily don't fit into the first three, just leaving roots. Technically, I suppose, that they are a leaf vegetable with a swollen stem and could be grown anywhere but are usually grown with roots by tradition.

Thanks all. I haven't looked into moon growing I'm an open minded sceptic on most things. Sceptical until i've worked out the biological logic - just my way.

I'll probably just have time to prepare the bed today so will end up planting tomorrow - though, I could do half and half to see if the day makes a difference :)

Good idea Pamsco then you will see if it makes any difference.