What happened to my garlic?

[rary]

I lifted one of my garlic plants today it is not that big and has failed to split into cloves and the rest look the same, they were planted late autumn into a bed with a lot of compost worked into it, so what would cause this problem

[kitty12345]

Are yours softneck or hardneck? My softnecks have split into cloves but are absolutely tiny which is disappointing. I've watered lots over the past week (yesterday was raining all day) so I'm hoping they don't rot but grow fatter.

The hardnecks are ready, pulled up already. Not massive either but at least normal looking.

I think it is the not so rainy winter and spring we had

Both planted in the last weekend of September.

[Mark_Riga]

A bit early yet I think for harvesting (still eating last years). They bulk up I think in the last week or so as the tops start to die down. I would hope they have another 2 to 4 weeks growing yet here at least. As for splitting into cloves, I think they need some frosts or cold? Have you had a very mild winter, or overwintered them indoors?

[bikermike]

Mine looks like this. I think it's formed underneath.

[MelanieSW]

My softneck garlic was disappointing as well, took them out last weekend as a couple were starting to rot. Split into cloves, but very small.
After last year's bumper crop that was an unpleasant surprise.

[Snoop Puss]

Are you sure they're ready to harvest, Rary?

[Nicos]

As far as I am aware, garlic only splits if it's been exposed to adequate cold.

[Nicos]

Just found this!....


"Garlic needs a cold period of about 6 weeks where the soil temperature is below 10°. This is the reason we can only plant in Autumn or very early spring. If this doesn't happen the garlic won't split into cloves and you'll get just one solid clove-less bulb"

From...
https://www.quickcrop.ie/learning/plant/garlic

[Nicos]

This happened to my elephant garlic about 12 years ago.
Not grown any since.

[ameno]

Just found this!....


"Garlic needs a cold period of about 6 weeks where the soil temperature is below 10°. This is the reason we can only plant in Autumn or very early spring. If this doesn't happen the garlic won't split into cloves and you'll get just one solid clove-less bulb"

From...
https://www.quickcrop.ie/learning/plant/garlic

Garlic bought specifically for spring planting is meant to be cold-treated to give it the required chilling. However I've found that with cheap sources (*cough* Wilko *cough*) this is apparently inadequately done, and the garlic does not split.
So either get spring garlic from a reputable supplier or just plant in autumn/winter.

[rary]

As I stay in the west of Scotland there is no problem with it being cold enough (the temp. in the greenhouse last Thursday was 6c and that was warm compared to the winter) and there in no shortage of water they are soft neck and some of them are starting to go to seed which I think was caused by the hot spell in February

[annie8]

Where did you buy them from. Have had little success with garlic in the past - the cloves never grew much or split. Bought from garlic farm this year and am more hopeful although I haven’t dug them up yet

[rary]

The garlic was purchased from D. T. Brown's so reckon it should have been good enough stock and it was for autumn planting.

[Jay-ell]

Plant some of the rounds this year and see if they make giant heads next year.

[Mr Bones]

they are soft neck and some of them are starting to go to seed which I think was caused by the hot spell in February

Garlic always bolts for us too Rary. The flower stem (scape) makes good eating but if left on the plant it's said the garlic's ready to harvest three weeks after it curls right round.

Last week the leaves on our whole crop went limp (possible indication it was almost ready). White rot was becoming evident so with the forecast for rain I lifted it. Out of 96 bulbs (all planted from self saved cloves) 29 had white rot so were made into lazy garlic, the rest are drying.