Small Garlic

Hi All

I put my garlic in around April, it was going really well with strong green shoots above ground.  Lately it has started to yellow and more and more of the foliage has fallen over, some of them are flat to the ground.

I've dug a couple up to see what they're like and whilst the bulb has formed its still quite small.

Firstly, can I eat the small bulbs and secondly is it worth me leaving them in the ground to bulk up or is that my lot? (not that i'm ungrateful, any thing is a bonus this year!!)

Obviously we've had a lot of rain which had probably given them a battering but do look really sorry for themselves!!

Thanks in advance

Rachel

Thanks Annie

I thought so, its very strong so I thought the really wee ones could be use to make some flavoured oil.

Rachel

Where did you buy the original cloves you planted?

with the rain mine has all rotten.. I am so gutted...

Garlic is a cool weather crop and should be planted when the weather begins to cool, either late Aug or early Sept depending on your location. It also needs lots of food to set its roots this year so I add lots of old manure/compost as well as bone meal. From the sound of your garlic, Rachael, you, might want to find some larger seed garlic for planting, which might be tricky this time of year but possibly through a mail order source. Check Google Search for that.
Next year your garlic will start to die off, it's growing cycle finishing, at this time of year (July). Once the leaves begin to yellow a bit, then it's done so pull it up as it won't fatten any further. It's not like potatoes which will thicken up a bit more. Pull it, cure the bulbs as you would onions, and store in a not too cool spot which will only incur sprouting. If you store your eating bulbs in oil, keep them always refrigerated as botulism easily starts up in unrefrigerated oil. Same with dried tomatoes in oil.
Fall planting in well prepared soil should yield some very respectable bulbs next year.

Thanks all

I got the bulbs from Wilko's and it did say plant up to Apr.  I'm new to this so just thought i'd give them a go.

The bulbs themselves look great so i'll be thankful for what i've got then.

Thanks for the tip about flavoured oils Trillium I never knew that.

Rachel