Question on Garlic

[Ancient Mariner]

Hi Everyone,
A quick question on Garlic.
I have just finished cleaning my Garlic Harvest after they have dried out and noticed that some of the Bulbs have bulb-lets a short way up the stem. The question is can these be planted on to produce a new crop next year?

[roitelet]

Yes they can but I don't think they will produce a head of garlic more like one large round bulb. I'm sure that someone else will be along soon who knows more about them than me.

[KevinM67]

I planted 40+ garlic cloves around a month ago and only about 9 seem to have broken through the surface.

The cloves appeared quite healthy and the beds 'should' have no drainage problems, however - I think I've planted them too deep (about 6 inches).

Should I be concerned ?

Also, I've got some chopped leaves and grass clippings that I wanted to mulch them with over the winter - should I hold off until I see more shoots ?

Thanks in advance, love Kevin.

[veggiechicken]

Dear Kelvin
6" may be a tad too deep,
Can you remove some of the soil so that they're about 3" deep?
Best wishes
VC

[KevinM67]

6" may be a tad too deep,

I was fearing this.

Damn the internet - I should have went with my own instincts.

[veggiechicken]

The Growing Garlic | How To Grow | Grow Your Own
says clove tip about 3cms below the surface.
What that is inches I know not

[Jimny14]

2.54cm to 1"

[veggiechicken]

Thanks Jimny!
So poking them in as deep as the first joint on my finger is about right

[Jimny14]

Depends, does your garlic grow from that depth? If so I'd say you were about right.

[veggiechicken]

I just poke a hole with my finger and drop a clove in. Seems to work

[Bill Door]

Hi KevinM67.

I would not get overly worried about the depth. They will force their way through to the surface. You will probably see them poking through now. You will have to remember that they are deeper when you try to dig them out.

I also keep thinking that you should put plenty of sand/small grit on the surface to help. However, at this moment in time, I can't tell you why I am thinking that. It will probably come to me when I am next looking for my glasses.

Hey ho

Bill

[Thelma Sanders]

I thought most bulbs got planted with twice as much earth above them as the depth of the bulb you are planting. So a 2 inch bulb gets covered with 4 in covering of earth. The generalisation seems to work ok for me.

[Thelma Sanders]

Hi KevinM67.

I would not get overly worried about the depth. They will force their way through to the surface. You will probably see them poking through now. You will have to remember that they are deeper when you try to dig them out.

I also keep thinking that you should put plenty of sand/small grit on the surface to help. However, at this moment in time, I can't tell you why I am thinking that. It will probably come to me when I am next looking for my glasses.

Hey ho

Bill

Advice is usually that the grit goes under bulbs if the drainage is poor.

[KevinM67]

Cheers Bill and Thelma - I'm feeling a bit better about them now.

It's supposed to be quite over the coming week, so I'll lay off mulching them for now and see if any more pop up.

[Chris11]

Hi Everyone,
A quick question on Garlic.
I have just finished cleaning my Garlic Harvest after they have dried out and noticed that some of the Bulbs have bulb-lets a short way up the stem. The question is can these be planted on to produce a new crop next year?

These bulb-lets are called scapes, and are also edible. They are usually removed so they don't divert too many of the growing resources away from the main bulb.