[Headgardener22]

I planted my garlic in December as usual but this must have been a particularly good winter as I have lots of strong plants, more than usual so I was thinking of using some as green garlic. Anybody know when they would be ready?

[mumofstig]

as soon as you want to, as you'll be eating tops rather than cloves 

[arugula]

Presumably then, you don't get a crop of bulbs/cloves if you harvest the greenery early? If that is the case, I think I'd rather grow wild garlic.. 

[mumofstig]

it usually doesn't divide into cloves until quite late in the year. It's just like a garlic flavoured leek   When I used them early, they were mild and quite sweet 

[bigben]

Think of them as being a bit like spring onions.

[Headgardener22]

I'd seen recipes that suggested using green garlic as it was milder than garlic cloves. Thanks for the advice I'll dig some up and try them.

[arugula]

it usually doesn't divide into cloves until quite late in the year.

What I was asking was, does it still achieve proper bulb/clove growth later in the year, once you have removed (some of) the greenery?

[emptydraw]

it usually doesn't divide into cloves until quite late in the year.

What I was asking was, does it still achieve proper bulb/clove growth later in the year, once you have removed (some of) the greenery?

I guess it depends how much greenery you harvest, if you take most of it or dig it up then you arent going to get anything. But you could take a leaf from several bulbs, or half a leaf even. But its all going to impact the size of the bulb to some degree! Depends on your personal view point. Personally I wait for the scrape, freeze them, and use when needed, but Garlic is all about the bulbs, isnt it!?!

[arugula]

..but Garlic is all about the bulbs, isnt it!?!

Well I agree, that's why I wondered if you can have it all ways, by doing this.  I bought wild garlic to grow in the garden, so I don't need to take greenery from my bulbs.

[mumofstig]

In the med they just plant a lot..and I mean a lot! then pull up every other bulb as they need it to use green. I assumed that's what the OP was going to do - pull them up now and use like you would a leek 

[arugula]

Ah! I see... 

[Headgardener22]

In the med they just plant a lot..and I mean a lot! then pull up every other bulb as they need it to use green. I assumed that's what the OP was going to do - pull them up now and use like you would a leek 

You got it, I planted the same quantity this year as I normally do but it seems to have survived the winter better than normal and is looking really good (it'll die now I guess ). We had more than enough garlic last year to eat fresh, frozen as as garlic oil and I was wondering what to do with what looked like an excess

[emptydraw]

I'm fortunate that my work colleagues will often pay for fresh produce, so any excess I take to work and sell, often paying for next years seeds/bulbs (its also a nice ego boost, saying "I grew that!"). It gives us something else to gossip about when making a cuppa....

[leeks r us]

you should try garlic chives for green garlic argyll they are fab.

[arugula]

you should try garlic chives for green garlic argyll they are fab.

Thanks for the tip, I have, and whilst not as garlicky in flavour as my wild garlic, they have a longer season.