Garlic query

[Skotch]

Hello all,

I planted out a whole load of garlic last November. Up until a couple of weeks ago, it was going well - nice long green leaves and purple heads (when I rooted around the base). Then the scalpes started coming through. I picked them off and used them in a really nice garlic soup recipe. Last week, the leaves started to turn a bit yellow and also, a whole load more leaves started to appear as if the individual cloves on the head have also started to sprout. Is this normal, or are the cloves 'bolting'? Should I dig them up and dry them out?

Any advice gratefully received.

Skotch

[zazen999]

Can you post a photo?

Have they ALL done this or just some?

Have you dug one up and looked at it?

I have some onions that have done this, I'm just leaving them to it....but if they all did it I'd be a bit worried.

[Skotch]

Yes, all of them appear to have done the same thing! I will try and post a piccie tonight. I did take one out yesterday and the head is still a bit small, but it appears as if the shoots are coming from the individual cloves.

S

[zazen999]

Weird......

I've not had that but someone somewhere usually has had...hopefully they will be along in a bit. Not quite sure what you can do - perhaps you will end up with humumgous cloves [we can but hope]...

[Skotch]

Weird......

I've not had that but someone somewhere usually has had...hopefully they will be along in a bit. Not quite sure what you can do - perhaps you will end up with humumgous cloves [we can but hope]...

That would be good, but somehow I get a feeling of despair coming on
S

[Skotch]

Finally got round to taking some pictures - hope you can see them and make head or tail of whats wrong (if anything). I also noticed that some of the bulbs were sending out second scalpes which again, I've removed (you might be able to see this on a couple of the pics). I'm happy to dig up if thats the learned advice - some of the bulbs appear to be a reasonable size already.

What do you think?

[gojiberry]

The leaves look green enough and the plants look to be growing OK so I would leave them to grow on. Don't really know why you have multi stem plants as mine are all single stem. If there are any with a decent size bulb I would be tempted to lift a few and dry them especially if you think they are going to shoot. There is no reason why you can't start using the gearlic as green garlic at least then you are garanteed to get something out of it.

Ian

[Skotch]

Hi Ian

I had a look at a few of the bulbs and in all cases, the newly formed cloves had started to sprout - could be because I had originally planted them very early (October last year). Anyway, I decided to dig them all up and dry them rather than leave them and chance rot again which is what happened last year. Still not a bad haul for 3 50p shop bought cloves!

Thanks for everyones help with this

[gojiberry]

Probably the best thing to do. You may have a job to stop them growing now that they have started and you may need to thing of ways of storing rather than drying them.

Ian

[Skotch]

Yes

I'm thinking of some 'lazy garlic' type solution. Could be an interesting project now

Skotch