On Sun, 5 Jun 2011 13:44:28 +0100, "Bob Hobden"
wrote:

"dellablackie" wrote


hi, could any one tell me at what stage a garlic plant will start to
form a bulb? we planted some out in oct, all looks good on top but
having dug one up just to be nosey noticed it looked more like a spring
onion,when do they split to form cloves? are we just wasting our time
leaving them in or is there time yet? mid july -aug to harvest. many
thanks

Should have bulbed up by now, a good suggestion as to what is underneath is
the thickness of the stem as it comes out of the ground, the thicker the
better. Have you been feeding and watering them if you haven't had any
decent rain? Been watering ours every couple of days since March just done
them again this morning.

Yes I'm sure it is lack of water and maybe feed which has caused this.
I have the same problem and as I can't get to my allotment frequently
enough and the soil is hard like concrete. I'm sure mine will be like
yours when I dig them. You can still use them but if you leave them
in, or replant them in some richer soil with compost added year they
will start to clove up next year.

Pam in Bristol