[infowarrior]

   Had to take out the rest of my garlic as the stalks had just rotted off. All the bulbs have split right open and the bulbs don't look very appetizing to be honest. Does anything happen to the taste of the garlic when this happens or will they be ok to eat as normal?

[mattwragg94]

have the bulbs started to rot?

[tosca100]

Some of our's did the same. As long as they are not rotten it shouldn't make any difference. I am using mine first and they are lovely and firm and juicy...and strong.

[mumofstig]

some od mine are the same - cos I didn't lift them early enough 
But I'm using those ones first and they taste ok 

[Trillium]

   Had to take out the rest of my garlic as the stalks had just rotted off. All the bulbs have split right open and the bulbs don't look very appetizing to be honest. Does anything happen to the taste of the garlic when this happens or will they be ok to eat as normal?

Sounds like you left them in too long. Normally you'd harvest them by end of July or so because they've attained their maximum bulb growth. But ugly doesn't always mean inedible. You'll find the cloves themselves are still good though they might have a few small ugly bits that need to be trimmed off.

[infowarrior]

Bulbs arn't rotten. Just realised I totally got my harvesting times mixed up! Thought they wern't ready until Autumn but it's Autumn when you're supposed to plant the things!!  I've never botched up like that before.

[fatcat1955]

Bulbs arn't rotten. Just realised I totally got my harvesting times mixed up! Thought they wern't ready until Autumn but it's Autumn when you're supposed to plant the things!!  I've never botched up like that before.

Unlike onions garlic should be lifted when the leaves begin to turn yellow.