strange garlic growth

[dawndaisy]

Has anyone else found that their garlic is sprouting from the new bulbs forming at its base? Mine were looking a bit yellow, so I had a closer look and found the stem is surrounded by 4 or 5 thin sprouts. I guess the strange weather has made it mature very early, and then, the whole lot has sprouted.
I havent dug any up, as its obvious what has happeed. I might leave them in place, and see what they do next. I dont suppose I'll get a crop of garlic off them.

What do you think I should do, lift and compost, or leave in to mature ....again?

Dawndaisy.

[lottie dolly]

lift and compost ,they can still be used just chop em up like you would a spring onion,even tiny bulbs can be squished and used,they don't all have to be big to prove they point

[rustylady]

I'd leave them where they are. When (if) the weather warms they should start growing away.

[Shadylane]

How odd. When did you plant them? I wouldn't leave them cos all that will happen is the new cloves will try to grow into new plants, but it's the wrong time of year for starting new garlic plants off so they won't mature before the end of the growing season. Or maybe they would but would be very small due to being joined at the hip and probably wouldn't split into cloves. Are they all re-sprouting or just some?

[vegnut]

Let them get on with it, some is better than none. If you can't use them as cloves then throw them in the stews or bolognese. Certainly don't just chuck them on the compost !!!

[dawndaisy]

They were planted, as normal at the beginning of winter, and I've done nothing unusual with them. Most are sprouting, but those that are not might get pulled to see if they are ready. I know its far too early, but if I dont pull them, they are likely to go the way of the others.
I cant be the only one that this has happened to, can I?
I might leave a few in as an experiment to see what happens.
Dawndaisy.

[rustylady]

Instead of pulling them up why don't you use your fingers (gloved if necessary) to remove the soil from round the plants. This way you will be able to see what's happening without disturbing them.

[BUFFS]

i reckon its all down to the peculiar weather we seem to be getting,leave them in as i had this last spring and i left them in and they now seem to be bulking up nicely,we had a funny year last year,summer finished at the end of may,so its no wonder plants get confused

[lottie dolly]

just had a thought dawndaisy,did you split the garlic bulb up into cloves,before planting,i looked at mine today and they fine,it sounds like you got more than 1 clove planted,or did you plant them in the same place past year,if so,sounds like you possibly left some behind,and they started up again this year,

[dawndaisy]

lottiedolly,
the bed is a new one,not previously grown garlic here. I split the buld into cloves, as I have done for every year. I dug one up earlier, and the cloves are still very immature, with green sprouts coming off them. It really does look like theyve decided to grow before they're properly formed. Looks like I'll get a good crop of 'green garlic'.
Im going to let them grow a bit more and not worrytoo much.
Dawndaisy

[zazen999]

It's not unusual. All alliums have a plethora of ways of propagating themselves. No need to panic.

You can dig them up, split them up and replant - you should get something by the end of the season resembling proper garlic.

[lottie dolly]

lottiedolly,
the bed is a new one,not previously grown garlic here. I split the buld into cloves, as I have done for every year. I dug one up earlier, and the cloves are still very immature, with green sprouts coming off them. It really does look like theyve decided to grow before they're properly formed. Looks like I'll get a good crop of 'green garlic'.
Im going to let them grow a bit more and not worrytoo much.
Dawndaisy

that is very strange indeed,got me stumped,thats the best thing to DD,not worry at all,is not time to get them up yet anyway,1 year mine never made bulbs,but was able to use the growth for flavour,nothing you can do this season,mine are approx 3/4 inch thick on the neck,so expecting some better bulbs this year,am going again tomoz,so will have a careful furtle with a trowel,
hope i did not upset you with my post,sorry if i did,but just had to be sure,

thanx zaz,never to old to learn eh,

[dominic10]

I noticed a couple of days ago one of my garlics is sprouting multiple stalks - as the rest are OK I am not too concerned but I will have a look to see if I can divide and separate. The weather has been so changeable I'm not surprised it's confused. Hope you manage to get a crop.

[hollychap]

any chance of a piccy ?

[dawndaisy]

sorry, Hollychap, theres no chance of a photo, as I cant get my photos off the camera, onto the PC, let alone put them on a post.
I might be able to grow wierd veg, but havent yet mastered the digital camera.I will learn....one day!
Dawndaisy.