Garlic is developing --

Bob, looks like your garlic is starting to let its lower leaves dry...a sure sign of imminent maturity for the bulbs. Keep a close watch for around 1/3 of the leaves to turn brown, check for mature bulbs, and probably time to dig the most mature. Just don't let them go so far that the outer bulb coverings begin to split. Your garlic bed looks fantastic. Congratulations! Nonna

We have some garlic too. I don't know what type it is? Does anyone else know? It's very strong smell (a good smell). they grew up volunteer next to our faucet.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f80/17/00/41/82/img_0315.jpg

Garlic is on my fall planting list this year. Llama momma, since we are in the same zone, when did you plant yours last fall?

It does not look like I will be lucky and get scapes, but would you look at the bulbs I went out and pulled the dirt back from. Looks like I will have a barrel load of garlic very soon and I will roast some on the grill like camprn suggested.

Bnoles

Hardneck garlic sends out scapes, softneck does not. However hard neck is a northern garlic, needs colder weather to grow, and the soft necks tend to be more fragile and do not grow as well in the north.

Apparently most garlic you purchase in the stores are soft neck. BTW Softnecks are the only ones you can braid. So there are pluses and minuses for everywhere

I found a really good link on growing, harvesting and braiding garlic! enjoy!!



http://themicrogardener.com/5-step-guide-to-growing-gorgeous-garlic/

Very helpful link SG..... Thanks!

Thanks, S.G. for a mostly very good site, especially for Southern growers (she mentions "sub tropic" part of Australia where she lives). Bet she never tasted some of the Korean or Eastern European hard neck varieties, which are much stronger flavored than most soft necked varieties. But, then, she mentions there are only about 15 varieties available in her area. Anyone who has looked at some of the US garlic growers' sites know there are literally hundreds of different kinds available for our growing enjoyment. The only truly wrong thing I noticed was the "garlic" flower head. Garlic does not make flowers 99.9% of the time. It makes bulbils at the end of its scape, and only the most primitive kinds, under enormous stress, may--and note: MAY--produce flowers. Leeks and elephant garlic send up flowering stalks. This aside, I enjoyed the site to wander through on this rainy, don't-dare-go-into-the-garden day. Thanks. Nonna

I have posted this before in other threads, but here it is again. The garlic growing calendar.
http://www.hoodrivergarlic.com/garlic-calendar.htm

thanks SG & camp!

hugs
rose

I have been gardening for years but this is the first year for me to do the raised beds. This is also the first year I've tried to grow garlic. I think that I should have waited till fall to plant (I live in Missouri) but my garlic is coming up and I am looking for the scaps to develop. Should I wait until next spring to harvest?

Colleen if no one here can help, then call your local extension service for the best advice for your area. I'm too new at growing garlic to give advice, best wishes!

Colleen, scapes only come from hardneck varieties. Softneck varieties do not form scapes. Do you know which kind you planted?
When did you plant your garlic. I would guess it will be ready before winter.

Wonder about my hardneck garlic. About 12 inches tall. No scapes yet but that is not what I'm wondering about. A few of the leaves have yellow tips. The rest of the plants leaves look healthy. Could it be because we have had unusually wet and cool temps?

The garlic book I have, Growing Great Garlic, says a few yellow tips is nothing to worry about.

greatgranny wrote:Wonder about my hardneck garlic. About 12 inches tall. No scapes yet but that is not what I'm wondering about. A few of the leaves have yellow tips. The rest of the plants leaves look healthy. Could it be because we have had unusually wet and cool temps?

Sounds like it's time to topdress the bed with some nice rich compost and water well. They will come along in time.

Okay, top dress. No need of moisture, we've had lots of rain and more in the forecast.

Thanks for the info.

GreatGranny
It's been about 3-1/2 weeks so did your garlic bounce back with more green??  I'm wondering since my hardnecks  had some yellow tips but my source said not to worry about it, so I didn't do anything.

llama momma wrote:GreatGranny
It's been about 3-1/2 weeks so did your garlic bounce back with more green??  I'm wondering since my hardnecks  had some yellow tips but my source said not to worry about it, so I didn't do anything.

Yes, it did. The scapes have been harvested and now am waiting for the lower leaves to turn brown so I can harvest them. Will be curious to see how they do. Thanks for asking.