Everyones Garlic update Please!

[applestar]

Does anyone know if Elephant garlic and German Pink garlic would cross if allowed to flower and go to seed near each other? I have a vague notion that Elephant garlic is different from others....

or maybe I'll eat all the scapes since they are easily grown from the cloves, but I just can't seem to resist letting things go to seed...

[ButterflyGarden]

It was my understanding that garlic couldn't be crossed.....

[!potatoes!]

apple - yeah, elephant garlic is a different species and so PROBABLY won't cross with regular garlic (though farther crosses have happened...if you're not married to the idea of eating the scapes, you should probably try it out in the name of science...of course, then you'd have to deal with growing it out from seed)...

my garlic update (sans pics):
trying lokalon, duganski, chinese pink, and an unknown variety that a neighbor's been growing for a few years and seems to do well regionally...never grown any of these before. they were all planted in identically-prepared beds (amended with compost and mulched with well-aged leafmold)...the chinese pink is some of the weakest-looking I've seen. thin, yellowy little things, barely opening leaves yet, while the others are up to about 6 inches tall, with good leaf-spread, and (mostly) good dark green color...and these chinese are supposed to be an early variety?

...pics (maybe) when I don't have 50 other things to do...still need to document my mushroom-log setup for that other thread, too...

[GardenRN]

Does anyone know if Elephant garlic and German Pink garlic would cross if allowed to flower and go to seed near each other? I have a vague notion that Elephant garlic is different from others....

Elephant garlic is a leek, not actually garlic. If that helps..

Here is mine. Mine is also just some cloves I bought from walmart. Will be happy if I get cloves to turn around and plant this fall. AAAAnd, my first time properly planting in the fall. I planted them last November. They were planted closer but I didn't mulch and don't think I planted deep enough so some succumbed to the cold and squirrels

[img]https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v687/grnpez/garlicbed.jpg[/img]

[applestar]

Thank you for all your replies.

A member of the leek family? That does make a difference in that I have 3 or 4 leeks that survived the winter unprotected, and I was going to let them go to seed. Luckily, I don't believe anyof the Elephants were planted near them. this info will also affect where to plant the new leek seedlings that are ready to be planted in the ground.

[Odd Duck]

I don't feel so bad, now. I was out in the garden getting things ready for more planting a few weeks ago. I had some "leeks" that I wanted to move to a different area. I wasn't ready to use them that day and they don't seem to care too much about being moved, so I lifted them. As I lifted I noticed some bulbing and was like, "Huh?" Smelled them and was even more confused. Then looked around a little more and found the tag that said, you guessed it, "Elephant garlic". I had forgotten that I planted it - my first time trying it so I only got a little! Duh! So I tucked them in where I wanted them and we'll just see what I get. Felt pretty stupid, though. Almost as stupid as finding the "parsnips" tag after I tucked my kohlrabi into place.

[petalfuzz]

Mine was generic white garlic, planted in the fall. It's doing great, about 6 inches tall now and starting to put out more leafleats. Just the tips of the leaves burned over winter. Rest of the plant is fine.

[GardenRN]

I don't feel so bad, now. I was out in the garden getting things ready for more planting a few weeks ago. I had some "leeks" that I wanted to move to a different area. I wasn't ready to use them that day and they don't seem to care too much about being moved, so I lifted them. As I lifted I noticed some bulbing and was like, "Huh?" Smelled them and was even more confused. Then looked around a little more and found the tag that said, you guessed it, "Elephant garlic". I had forgotten that I planted it - my first time trying it so I only got a little! Duh! So I tucked them in where I wanted them and we'll just see what I get. Felt pretty stupid, though. Almost as stupid as finding the "parsnips" tag after I tucked my kohlrabi into place.

Haha...that's alright. Technically this is my first time even growing garlic. The first time I tried I bought elephant garlic assuming that since it said "garlic" it must be. Only to find out halfway through the season that I was growing a bed of leeks. I can tell you that I pulled them at the end of the season and braided them just like regular garlic and hung them from a top cabinet in my kitchen and they kept just fine for months and months. I used the last one about 7 months after hanging them and it was just fine.

Good luck to everyone's garlic AND leek efforts this year!

[Francis Barnswallow]

The grasslike growth is around ten inches high.

[annastasia76]

I have a question about garlic, since so many plant it in the fall, does it need to get really cold in order to grow in the spring??? we get some frost but not too much. Also when is the best time to plant it, is it late November/early December???

[GardenRN]

No, it doesn't need to go through a cold season to grow well, it just takes that long. In fact it basically stops growing in the winter and just kinda stays put. But if you plant it in the spring it won't be ready by winter, and then you'll have to wait all through winter and into the following spring to get your garlic.

By planting in the fall you are just giving the plants a couple months head start for the following spring.


........I think.

[wisconsingal]

Wow. I planted here in michigan in october and all I have are ittle blades poking up through the straw. Maybe I planted them too deep.

This is the scene here in Southeastern Wisconsin as well. They are about an inch high today. Not much to look at!

Everyone's garlic looks so great. I *heart* garlic! Really, I can't imagine food without it.

[TWC015]

Here are a couple of pictures of my garlic I took today:
[img]https://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/TWC015/IMG_7743-1.jpg[/img]


[img]https://i766.photobucket.com/albums/xx309/TWC015/IMG_7732-1.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Been watnign to take some pics but its dark out right now.

Mine look about like yours Eric as well. They have really shot up here lately in the past week or so. I even have some volunteer garlic growing from where I had it last year that is doing pretty well, onions too in the same bed (my rose bed ).

[GardenRN]

ugh...after seeing everyone elses pics I feel like I should have planted a lot more!

[DoubleDogFarm]

Thanks everyone. I just got off the boat and back on the island a few hours ago. Had to take my elderly father home. Takes almost two days for a 100 mile trip one way.

Sounds like most of you are doing alright with your garlic.

My garlic seems a little sprawled this year, but should straighten out once the weather warms.

Eric

[DoubleDogFarm]

It's been about three weeks. How about another update?

My garlic is more upright. [img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Vegetable%20Garden%20plants/DSC03327.jpg[/img]

Eric

[Spicy Chicken]

Late as usual!

[img]https://driedhotpeppers.com/images/Garlic_pics/Garden_Pic_large001_800.jpg[/img]

[img]https://driedhotpeppers.com/images/Garlic_pics/Garden_Pic_large002_800.jpg[/img]

[img]https://driedhotpeppers.com/images/Garlic_pics/Garden_Pic_large004_800.jpg[/img]

[soil]

wow you already have scapes. cut them suckers off and make scape pesto!

[speedster7926]

2 questions what is scape pesto and how do u make it I love pesto I can eat it on just about anything. oh and 3rd question lol if I plant garlic this fall when will I have edible garlic I was told that if I plant it this fall it goes dormant for a season is that correct or what? I have done spring planting but not fall

[hendi_alex]

Warm climate garlic should be planted when the night temperatures reach down into the fifties, October/November here in S.C. Those cool temperatures will trigger sprouting. Here the garlic grows vigorously at long as night temperatures stay above freezing and day temperatures are in the fifties or warmer. Growth slows considerably during the coldest part of the winter here, but picks up quickly in the warm weeks of February. In Florida I would expect the garlic to continue to grow through most of the winter. My guess is that you will get a very early harvest when day time highs get much above the mid 80's for a prolonged period of a few weeks. Be sure an get a variety of garlic that does well in a southern climate as the cold climate garlic will do just like tulips, making many small cloves and never getting any decent maturity. The garlicstore.com has lots of information on warm climate and cold climate varieties. If you are going to order garlic for planting, do it early as most sources will be sold out before June.

[hendi_alex]

BTW, here it is not even beyond April and my garlic is already starting to get brown leaves near the bottom of the plant. The temperature has been well up in the mid to upper 80's and even warmer for the past three weeks. Looks like I'll be pulling my bulbs early this year, perhaps as soon as mid May. The first year that I planted garlic, harvest didn't come until mid June. Hope my plants have time to make decent bulbs with this unseasonably warm weather and early harvest.

[hendi_alex]

This year I planted a little extra garlic, to give away. But as my last years crop started to get past its best quality and dry too much, I decided to start pulling some of the young plants and began using them in late February. This coming year I'll incorporate two strategies to give us high quality garlic year round. First I'll mince the garlic as if making pesto and will freeze it in an ice tray with the garlic covered by olive oil. The oil will keep the air from the minced garlic and should preserve the flavor. The other thing we will do is over plant sufficient extra garlic in order to harvest more plants early in the season when the bulbs are still immature. When these are harvested they look like spring onions, and we use them just like spring onion in that both tops and white bottom parts are diced and tossed in the dish for a wonderful full garlic flavor.

[soil]

speedster scapes are those curly flower stalks on the garlic in the photos above. google garlic scape pesto for recipes. also there are lots of other plants you can make pesto with other than basil

hendi_alex I think ill be pulling my garlic early this year too, we had an early spring and havent had frost for over a month which is real rare.

[kimbledawn]

Here is my garlic today! We have had terrible weather! Constant rain, tornado warnings Well the rain slowed so I took a pic of my garlic!

[img]https://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y8/kimbledawn/garlic.jpg[/img]

[applestar]

Some of the garlic and onions surrounding the Peach tree:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image8430.jpg[/img]

Garlic in the Sunflower& House which will be a tomato bed this year (tomatoes, ground cherries, and eggplants in the path hardening off). The fat one on the end is Elephant Garlic:
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image8429.jpg[/img]

Garlic along the far path edge in last year's New Tomato Bed currently planted with FAVA beans and seeded with Stowell's Green corn. Again, fat ones on the ends are Elephants. Strappy leaves along the foundation are Daylilies. path edge on the near side is planted with onions.
[img]https://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll272/applesbucket/Image8431.jpg[/img]

[gixxerific]

Here is my garlic so far I thought it was doing great until I saw the previous scapes! But really we are different climates and mine is doing great. I can't wait until harvest time.

I am loving the smell of freshly minced garlic cooking away with our roast right now. as Homer would say "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Garlic!!!!!!"

[img]https://i272.photobucket.com/albums/jj185/gixxerific/DSC05190.jpg[/img]

[PunkRotten]

I am thinking about growing some garlic. I bought a bulb at the store. I am thinking about just planting one or 2 cloves. Is fall the best time to do it? And do you think my method is a good idea with using store bought garlic?

[gixxerific]

I am thinking about growing some garlic. I bought a bulb at the store. I am thinking about just planting one or 2 cloves. Is fall the best time to do it? And do you think my method is a good idea with using store bought garlic?

I have grown garlic with store bought garlic before. Yes fall is the best time. Though being in Cali that can be argued due to the many diff climates there. Around my part of the wood fall is the best.

[applestar]

These Music garlic are vigorous! They're about 24-28"H now.
I think the Elephants want it hotter. They're remaining rather squat though nearly twice as thick in diam.

[speedster7926]

I'm in zone 8 can I plant garlic now or would that be pointless?

[DoubleDogFarm]

I'm in zone 8 can I plant garlic now or would that be pointless?

They also have me at zone 8.

I'm not sure it would be pointless, but I'm thinking the bulbs won't be vary large.

Eric

[DoubleDogFarm]

Ok, It's time again. Garlic updates please.

[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Vegetable%20Garden%20plants/DSC03401.jpg[/img]
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Vegetable%20Garden%20plants/DSC03401-1.jpg[/img]

I did more line trimming today and used the mulch for the garlic. Trying to keep up with the weeds, but the weeds are winning.

Eric

[sheeshshe]

Mine is doing OK I Think We've had nothing but rain for a month now, but they're still kciking. they're probably 8-10" tall? they seem to be stuck at that height... I hope they make garlic and it isn't a waste of time I hope I hope!

[hendi_alex]

Our temperatures are well ahead of an average year, with many days in the upper 80's and 90's so far. Supposed to be above 90 for the next week. So the garlic plants are turning brown very quickly and this past week most were harvested. Only have a few left in the ground, but will harvest them next week. Bulbs are generally not as big as last year, but considering the quick onset of high temperatures, I'm surprised the the bulbs got as big as they did. Should have more than enough garlic to last until next year. Will likely save most all of the big bulbs to plant for next year's crop.

[applestar]

A challenge with such an early harvest maybe preserving the larger cloves until planting time. What is your strategy?

[DoubleDogFarm]

I recommend you leave them as bulbs, not cloves. I left mine in a wood filling cabinet all winter. Basically cool and dark. I almost screwed up and sold all the garlic at the Farmers Market.


Eric

[hendi_alex]

We can plant here in October. The bulbs are still in great shape at that time. And I do keep next year's seed bulbs undisturbed except sometimes I'll pull and save an especially large clove from a bulb that we are using. Those have always lasted well until planting as well. I'm going to simplify things a bit this year by combining all of my bulbs of different varieties. They will graded into large bulb/small bulb and only the larger bulbs will get selected for next year crop. For our uses, I don't notice any difference between one variety and another, though the keeping qualities of some of the varieties do tend to differ. That shouldn't be an issue this year however as we will not push the limits of storing the fresh cloves. We will eat the garlic fresh until there is a noticeable decline in the texture/oiliness of the cloves. At that time we will switch to our store that will have been minced, covered in olive oil, and frozen. Year before last we stretched our use of stored fresh garlic from season to season, but the garlic was not very good quality for the last two or three months. This year I started harvesting immature garlic during the last two or three months prior to harvest, and that worked well as both the tops and the immature bulbs give a good garlic flavor. So next year we will over plant to provide scallion like immature bulbs in the early to mid spring, and will have minced frozen to try as well. Those combined strategies should provide us with good quality garlic year round.

[TZ -OH6]

Scapes just started emerging a couple of days ago and my shallots put up flower stalks. Our spring was relatively warm, but wet, which is why I think the alliums are maturing so fast. There is quite a bit of leaf binding in the Chesnok, which might be due to the weather combinations. I can certainly tell where the transition from nitrogen ammended compost to tilled in leaves was due to the slight nitrogen deficiency vs strong growth within the plot.

[DoubleDogFarm]

TZ, I have never grown shallots. Is the flower stock ruining your harvest?


Here's an updated picture of my Music garlic. Taken this morning. No scapes, but still nice and green.
[img]https://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h300/eric_wa/1%20Double%20Dog%20Farm%20Vegetable%20Garden%20plants/DSC03426.jpg[/img]

Eric