Garlic question

[GIB]

I planted Early Wight garlic at the end of November last year. The plants have done very well and are currently around 24" high with the stems being approx 2cms (3/4") in diameter. At the weekend in had a quick look at the base to see if there was a bulb forming but only found what looks like the base of a leek - i.e. lots of tassle like roots but a straight shank and no bulb. Will it form later or is there something wrong - i gave them a little nitrogen about 3 weeks ago.

Graham

[oldherbaceous]

Morning Graham, as long as the tops are still green and growing they should be fine.
You would be better giving them a feed with a tomato feed now, rather than a nitrogen feed.

[GIB]

Morning OH,

Many thanks, i'll give them a feed as suggested.

Graham

[Colin_M]

I agree with OH.

If the stems are really 2cm wide, you've got thriving plants. However switching from N to K-based fertilizer (eg. Tomato fertilizer) will help focus the growth on the bulb. It may also help reduce the impact of rust (if yours suffer from that).

Finally, I've got around 5 varieties of garlic on my plot (4 from the Wight Garlic farm), all planted back last October. They're all at slightly different stages of development. Some of my red ones have got bulbs around 6cm in diameter, but the stems aren't really much thicker than yours. However they've had plenty of K over the past few months.

Spring really is the time to have done this (eg. March onwards) as that's when the groundwork for the bulb happens. You might still get good results provided yours don't mature too early in June.


Colin

[retropants]

The stems on my early wight (from the garlic farm) are more like 3-4 cm wide, I have top dressed with woodash about 3 times this year. I am terrified of digging them up, in case they are just giant garlic flavoured leeks
By the way, how soon will they be ready, the leaves are now quite yellow, and my garlic always gets rust really badly.
Thanks,
Emma.

[Colin_M]

By the way, how soon will they be ready, the leaves are now quite yellow, and my garlic always gets rust really badly.

The usual advice is to wait until all the leaves are starting to noticeably droop. With the weather we've had, some of the outside leaves may well be yellow & drooping. In Bristol, it was really warm & dry for much of April & early May. If you didn't water it then, it may be showing the effects now.

Another check: gently scrabble the soil away from the base of one or two plants. You won't need to go down to the roots and many garlic varieties start to poke up towards the surface near ripening time anyway. If there's not much there, just cover up again and there should be minimal damage done.

Finally, rust always looks really nasty. Whilst I think it does have some effect, many people feel that's minimal & may not be a good reason for harvesting before the bulb's fully formed.

Here's my Early Wight from last year:


Good luck & let us know how you get on (probably better to do so in the "Harvesting" area, rather than "General Chatter")

Colin

[retropants]

Thanks so much Colin!
I had been watering them once a week, so hopefully they will be successful. I will indeed keep you posted! I may even try to post a pic (eek, scary!)
Thanks, Emma

by the way, your harvest from last year looks magnificent!