Garlic doesn't take this long does it?

[Leeds_lad]

planted garlic last march. They are currently STILL growing. Decided to dig a little and take a look at how they are doing below the soil, quite disappointing really. The bulbs are tiny! they are no bigger than a 5 pence piece in diameter, why is this?

[Thelma Sanders]

Did you plant proper seed garlic, or stuff from the greengrocer? cos they sometimes they do grow like that, failing to bulb up.

Did you check on them in July apx last year, to see if they'd formed bulbs? cos the tops don't always die right back. What you see now, might be new regrowth

[Leeds_lad]

Yeah I checked them but they haven't seemed to grow any in the last 5 or so months. They are still green with top growth but tiny bulbs. They were from a green grocer yeah, I actually read that sometimes these can be better than one's from nurseries / packets.

[rustylady]

Traditionally garlic is planted on the shortest day (December) and harvested on the longest (June). Your garlic sounds as if it was a bit late being planted, which is possibly why it didn't mature in the summer.

[Leeds_lad]

Well I heard that it needs a cold spell to form bulbs, is this needed at the start of the growing season then? I mean, it's had the last few months of it but they were already growing for months before then...

[shirlthegirl43]

The need for a cold spell is to make the bulb split and form cloves. As rustylady says, it is usual to plant in the autumn / early winter when the frost will make the split happen, then the main growing happens in spring / early summer ready for harvesting around June July. Maybe pull these up and try again - planting now will be fine.

[Leeds_lad]

Well i've just popped in this years garlic. Guess i'll scrap the old stuff, use the mini bulbs in a salad or something and start a fresh

[Thelma Sanders]

They were from a green grocer yeah, I actually read that sometimes these can be better than one's from nurseries / packets.

Ha Ha! I did wonder cos that's what happened one year when I planted some from Lidl - they made single shoots rather than making a bulb
I've bought proper seed ones ever since - they're cheap enough in Wilko

[Aberdeenplotter]

I planted my garlic in October because years ago some old codger told me that's when to plant it. Now I'm getting towards being an old codger, I tell others to plant theirs then as well because it works

[Alison]

There are varieties you can plant in the spring but unless you know what you have you won't know if it was one of those anyway . I find a late autumn / early winter planting works well - usually November for me.

[Tripmeup]

I hope the old codgers are right, because thats when mine went in
...the 28th of October to be exact...

I planted my garlic in October because years ago some old codger told me that's when to plant it. Now I'm getting towards being an old codger, I tell others to plant theirs then as well because it works

[veggiechicken]

Use your baby garlic as wet /green garlic -quite a delicacy! And tell everyone that's why you kept your garlic cloves small! Next year they'll all be doing it.
Alys Fowler: Green garlic | Life and style | The Guardian

[Snadger]

I wouldn't give up on them yet LL! All parts can be used 'in the green' like garlic chives or you can let them go to seed and use the 'scapes' which are also a delicacy. If they are not taking up valuable space, just leave them and they may surprise you!
I'm an old codger as well though, and planted mine in October . Mine are planted in buckets in the greenhouse to get some winter use from it. They are healthy looking plants about 10 inches high.

[binley100]

Mine were planted in October and I'm NOT an old codger ......

[vegnut]

Mine were planted in October and i'm not quite an old codger ...But getting there