Garlic 'flowers'

[shirlthegirl43]

I decided to plait my garlic together today. A couple of the plants had 'bumps' in their stalks which I took to be flower heads forming. While sorting through the bits afterwards, I decided to open the flower lumps to see what they looked like and I found these...

They look like little bulbs of garlic to me can I plant them for a crop next year? If so, should I plant them now or wait a bit?

[quark1]

You can certainly plant them and these bulblets will produce - but not sure of time frame. May take 2 years rather than one?

Someone more 'in the know' will be along soon to help you out I'm sure!

[zazen999]

I just snapped these off and added them to my 'tray of garlic to be used before I crack open another bulb'...there's no reason why these wouldn't produce garlic just as any others, they are just growing further up the stem...

They are cute though aren't they

[Snadger]

Being a vegetative reproduction they should have EXACTLY the same traits as the parent plant............similar to my leek 'grass' (which is ready for mowing!)

[zazen999]

Talking of which, my shaved leeks [shaved only 19 days ago] are showing their grasses already.

Quite impressed with this, it has to be said.

[shirlthegirl43]

So what is the reckoning on when to plant them? Should I pop them into cell trays now?

[ann-the-nan]

Garlic "flowers"

I wish mine had flowered. They've just suddenly died back and now I can 't find them to dig them up.

[SarzWix]

I've got a little head of those too Shirley, I was wondering what to do with them!

[shirlthegirl43]

I wish mine had flowered. They've just suddenly died back and now I can 't find them to dig them up.

PM your addy and I will pop a 'head' in the post to you.

I've got a little head of those too Shirley, I was wondering what to do with them!

I guess we plant them and see what happens?

[SarzWix]

I guess we plant them and see what happens?

Yeah, just have to fish out a cell tray & compost from the heap of 'stuff' in my porch/potting room... Mine are still attached to the stalk, which is in a glass of water, so hopefully they'll survive like that til I get organised...

[annianni]

I've got loads this year!

Hi
In the past I've had garlic "flowers"
I've kept them dry (they keep for absolutely ages btw)
Planted them in an egg box with a little soil in each compartment, and they nearly always germinate. Done at different times of the year as far as I remember. Once they are 3/5cms high just plant the whole thing, and the egg box will rot down.

Also, if you seperate the little bulblets out when dry, and gently rub off the skins, you can add them whole to a casserole /stew /soup.......Delicious!!

When the plants are a little larger, you can use them like spring onions in the Wok or in salads, as they are still quite gentle tasting.

It's fun to give an "egg box" to a friend as a pressy too with shoots - kids love them.

[jacob]

I ate mine...

[theusualsuspect]

Without knowing which type of Garlic you're growing, they could be an effect of the hybridization process.

I'm a bit sceptical that what looks like a mutation would grow well, but if you have the time then give it a go.

During my time growing hybrids of a certain plant, I noticed a lot of mutations appeared that were the equivalent of genetic dead-ends and my guess is that this is what you've got here.