[MontyTom]

Hello all.  Can anyone help with something that has been bothering me for a while now?

After harvesting my garlic this year I left in one or two plants that subsequently went to 'seed' (or what I thought this was?!?).  The plants flowered and I was left with a cluster of what appeared to be smaller cloves of garlic.  Are these garlic seeds and can they be planted?  All the garlic I have ever grown was from planting cloves, so this is troubling me.

Many thanks for any advice offered.  Happy overwintering!

[muntjac]

Hard neck varieties produce a central stalk which goes straight up and then usually makes one or two loops. The garlic top is called a scape, garlic flower or top set, and contains a bulge where bulbils will form. If you want all the plant's energy to go into producing a large bulb, snip the scape off after it has made one or two loops. If you want to use the bulbils to propagate more garlic, leave them in place until harvest time and then dry them separately from the bulbs.


courtesy of the garlic farm

[MontyTom]

Thanks, muntjac!  I have looked around for an explanation for ages and you have put my mind at rest now.

Incidentally, I did plant some next to my other garlic cloves this year to see if they would grow.  I'll keep you posted on the results.

Thanks again