For years, I've read and been told that garlic doesn't like transplanting. However, I've never seen any information stating at what point transplanting is bad. We know that it can be done with the bulbils and I have a number of them planted now with the goal of being transplanted. It should work with cloves but I would question 1" starter holes unless the goal was to develop a small tight early root system.

However, if I were in Virginia I'd be planting them in the ground now. Can't be so cold there that the ground is frozen so solid that you can't chop into it. Latest that I've planted up here was 31 December. Used a hatchet to chop the holes and it worked!

Martin

Garlic that voleenters can be easily transplanted. Limit this to shortly after it comes up. Much later and the bulb will be somewhat smaller than normal.
However, I am with Martin on this one. Plan in the ground, not seed starters.

In the last issue of mother earth news go back and read about the farm from the southeast(that is me) and I stated that we plant mid october thru mid november.(ideally) But I have planted as late as new Years day. This year I am still planting and hope to be finished by New Years Day. Plant between now and new years and you will be fine. Your harvest date will still be mid to late June.