[jameshuk]

This is my first year as an allotment holder and I am mostly enjoying the experience (although organic gardening is proving much harder than I thought- especially when clearing the plot!!!)

My first major problem has now come up..... my garlic seems to be dying off..... the foliage(if thats the right word) seems to be dying off although the bulb seems okay and near the bottom of the leaves they are still green(have been this way for about three weeks)

This did happen after a two week holiday when the plot got very overgrown with weeds again.... is this the cause? Will they be okay?

I know garlic dies off when ready to harvest but they definatly arent ready yet....??

PS. Any such thing as organic weed killer??? :-)

[corndolly]

It may help if you can post a picture.

Could be that they are ready to harvest ? Mine have nt started dying back yet , but sounds like yours have , they wont grow any bigger now .

[jack russell]

I planted some garlic around April this year and the foliage on mine is also looking like it is dying off a bit but on digging a bulb out of the ground it has doubled in size from when planted but looks healthy :? Mine have been kept weed free just as a point of interest so i dont think it would be that

[corndolly]

jack russell , when you planted your garlic , you did split the bulb into cloves did nt you, from your post it sounds like you put the bulb in whole !

[jack russell]

LOL      

I split it into cloves  

 

[gobs]

They can be ready, James. Depends on variety and when you planted.

As long as sure they are dying back, not just having say yellowing from frost or rust damage.

Jack, didn't you plant them a bit late?

[Eristic]

Dig one up and have a look see. If it looks ok, it is.

[Scribbler]

Water or lack of could be a factor. Have you watered them lately James?

[durham_lass]

I planted mine in November and the leaves are now yellowing.  I believe the instructions said they would be ready about June/July time.  My allotment manager said he thinks mine will have a white powder on them when I dig them up, not sure why.  I got my garlic from someone here on the forum, he was from Scotland I think.

[Scribbler]

Wow that's some powerful garlic!!!  

[gobs]

I don't think I ever watered garlic. :shock:

[Sadgit]

I don't think I ever watered garlic. :shock:

I hardly water mine either...

[Jules]

I planted my garlic back in October/ November time and harvested it about a week ago.  The plants do look as though they are dying back when it is ready to harvest them, so maybe yours are ready too!  
As others have said it will depend upon when you planted them and what variety they are - I planted a variety called Marco.