Garlic Query

[Sue]

Hi
I couldnt resist pulling up one of my garlic bulbs today to see how it was getting on and it wasn't!
At the moment it looks like a large spring onion. Has it not split into bulbs because of the lack of frost or does this happen very late in the day ie June/July, it's going to have to be quick, the sowing details said ready end of July for harvesting.
Sue

[sewer rat]

What variety is it Sue - and was it autumn or spring sown ?

[Alice]

Jings Sue, you've got me worried. I planted mine in October. It's about 18" high trying to flower. I'm having the scapes off, and expecting the garlic to be ready about July. But...... I'm having one out tomorrow to see what is going on.

[Paulottie]

I find that they swell quite late. Autumn sown ready to dry in early July.

[Grovsey]

I pulled an "early purple wight" last week and it as about shallot size ao I am leaving the rest until 2-3 week fo June. I think the lack of water early spring has probably held the bulb size back...

[Dobby]

I thought it was the frost that split the bulb wonder how ours are I know one lot is has faild there very thin and about only half have come throw
the outher lot that whent in first look fine
I supose if it hasnt split we could always cut it up and dry it freaze it ?
Any iders on how to store it if this is the case

[Paulottie]

Alternative storing for garlic

1. peel, salt, crush, then put in jam jar cover in olive oil to exclude air. Brilliant ready to use garlic.

2. mix it with butter and parsley make a sausage, wrap in greaseproof paper and freeze it.

[Sue]

Gosh
Can't remember the varieties will have to check tomorrow, but def Autumn sown.
Love the Orwell quote Paulottie.
Sue

[GeordieVik]

I have had disappointing garlic too - I planted mine out in October, and the leaves are starting to dry out at the very tips, so on Saturday I thought I'd pull one out and have a look - it looked, as Sue described, like a fat spring onion, although the skin on the outside of the 'bulb' - not that it was big enough to merit being called that! - was slightly brown and soft (not quite rotten, but certainly nowt like any garlic I've ever bought!)

I'm sure I can't have done it that wrong - you just put them in, pointy end up don't you??????

And here I've been bragging to my OH about all the home grown garlic he's going to have to cook with!!

Vik

[Cutecumber]

Keep your hands off them for a while longer, that's my advice!

I am not surprised that you don't have much of a crop yet - it really is too early for your bulbs to have swollen up, even if you sowed in the Autumn.

Watch for fungus (remove any with "fluff" on them") but otherwise just wait, wait, wait.

The drying of the tips is not a sign that the bulb is ready - the plants often get yellow bits.

I don't have the luxury of pulling a few in order to see what's going on as I only planted six cloves

[Cutecumber]

Oh, and Dobby, frost does not actually split the bulb (it's not like the freeze-thaw effect that shatters your terracotta pots!)

Here's a quote from the Garlic Farm which explains it beautifully:

Garlic requires a spell of cold weather, generally 1-2 weeks at 0-4C, to prepare itself physiologically for bulb formation later in the year.