has my garlic died?

[queen of the cobs]

Hi,

Been down to the plot today and noticed that one of my garlics has gone very yellow and withered - please tell me it's just ready to pick before the others!

a picture, which may help:

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/albu...98529352&fit=1

[Cutecumber]

looks like your photo-album is in a private area - can't access the picture

Some garlic, autumn planted, can be ready in May... but the weather hasn't exactly been good for it this last month.

Can you have a dig down and see if the bulb is fully formed?

[queen of the cobs]

oh, thanks Cutecumber - I'll see what I can do to make it public.

Basically all of the leaves have gone yellow and withered - don't know why - the plants next to it are fine - I hope it hasn't got rust? (not really sure how to recognise that)

Sigh - it was the very first thing I planted on the plot.

can you see it now?

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/albu...photo=98529352

[muckman]

HI
I would just dig it up, it looks ready to me, make sure the bulb is fully grown and split into colves. if not dig the one out to the left in your picture that looks like its going the same way.

[Cutecumber]

Ok I wish I hadn't looked now - my plants are puny by comparison!

I'm not worried for you, I'm jealous

[jacob marley]

once they turn yellow they are ready if you leave them in to long the bulbs start to shrink

[queen of the cobs]

I really hope they are ready - they were planted in December and I thought they weren't supposed to be ready till July. Will pull it up tomorrow and see. How do I dry them out in all this rain?

[rustylady]

If the leaves have gone yellow and withered you may as well pull it up as it's not going to do any more growing or developing. Even if it hasn't made a decent size bulb you can still use it providing it's not soft or rotten.

[jacob marley]

I really hope they are ready - they were planted in December and I thought they weren't supposed to be ready till July. Will pull it up tomorrow and see. How do I dry them out in all this rain?

It will not rain for ever mine have been lying on the ground since last wednesday so do not worry i am sure they will be alright jacob

[poozie]

I read on a website that you should pull up one bulb and see how many sheaths (very thin papery layers around the bulb) you can peel off the bulb - if there are only three, harvest the bulbs, if there are four or more, wait another two weeks or until most of the leaves have turned brown.

[Alice]

It looks ready to me. I wouldn't worry about storing it. For that amount of garlic just get on and use it within the next few weeks. Very jealous.

[Paulottie]

once they turn yellow they are ready if you leave them in to long the bulbs start to shrink

News to me Jacob, interesting.

My autumn planted garlic nearly ready, things are a bit early this year.

[queen of the cobs]

well, I pulled up the most withered one and it came out very easily, not very big but looks like it's split into cloves...bit slimy though, which was worrying. I meant to take a picture and ask everyones advice (hope I haven't got eelworm or anything like that!) but left camera at home - will do tomorrow...bit worried though.

[yoanbob]

looks ready to me, they need a day or so somwhere dry once picked to dry out, think you'll be fine!

[andrewo]

Gone yellow? Then time to come out. Good luck with the crop, I've never had luck with garlic or onions on my plot, I water and water and water and they never grow - do I have petulant onions or what?