Garlic

[billbradshaw]

Hi all - my first post - EXCITING!!!!
Being the carefree and positive soul I am, I ignored all advice and planted my garlic in June or July last year (about as far away from the correct time as possible!) because someone gave me a bulb of Elephant Garlic and I wanted to grow it asap.
I came up fine, it made it through our winter and is now fattening up lovely and enjoying the sun - they look like mature leeks at the moment. Anyway, I plan to lift them at the 'correct' time this year and want to know what difference (if any) it will have made to the timings of harvest etc.
Also, someone told me that they might flower because of when I planted it - should I remove any flower stem if it arises? Is that best practice with garlic? I have never grown it before but LOVE garlic and so always want to have some.
The more advice you can give me the better!
Thanks garliclovers!

[zazen999]

Hi

I've moved your thread out of Growing Techniques into an appropriate board.

Many Thanks

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...here_4846.html

[Eyren]

Yes - remove the flower stem or it will form a hard centre to the bulb. Good luck!

[Demeter]

Seconded, and welcome to the vine!

[realfood]

I assume that it was only elephant garlic that you planted. Elephant garlic has a large pink flower, which comes up between the cloves and does not effect the keeping quality of the cloves, but makes the cloves smaller. If you want size, pinch off the flower bud and add it to a stir fry!
You can see photos of the flower if you look at my website under elephant garlic(click on my name)

[billbradshaw]

because i planted it early - should i harvest it early or should i just leave it till the normal harvest time (whenever that is?) will they just get bigger?

[Mchanen]

I think the usual harvest time is mid June to July- but if the tops turn yellow and start to fall over it is ready to harvest so just keep and eye on it.

[crichmond]

You can see photos of the flower if you look at my website under elephant garlic(click on my name)

What an excellent and informative website, its now saved in my favourates.