Garlic Question

[joz]

I planted a bunch of garlic in... November? I think. Maybe December. Anyway... they made leaves like I expected garlic would. Alternating sides, big oniony leaves.

But then, a week ago, they started doing this:

My neighbor had scapes on his garlic last week, but I don't think that's what this is. This variety (Creole Burgundy) isn't supposed to make scapes. It's a poof of a bunch of roundish leaves, straight out of the middle.

What's going on? Are all the cloves throwing leaves at once? I'd not have thought I'd have cloves or a proper bulb yet. No, I haven't poked under the dirt to see what's going on... should I? They're mulched about 3"-4". Or is this just what they do? Some of them are throwing similar leaf bunches out the side, or adjacent to the main ... stem?

 

[MontyJ]

I've never raised that variety. Maybe that's what it does instead of making scapes?

 

[seedcorn]

When I get rounded leaves, seed heads usually follow.

 

[lesa]

They sure look like scapes to me... I would cut them off. Since I have no patience-I would also dig one up and take a look at it!

 

[joz]

I thought a garlic would only make one scape? This is like, 8 - 10 leaves. Poof! Pouf? Puff? I'll dig around the base of this one and see what's up.

 

[joz]

THEY ARE SCAPES!

I didn't think I was going to get any.

So I found this awesome article: WTF, CSA?

Pickles, I think... for Bloody Marys. And a meal feature. Then I think I will have used them all up.

 

[lesa]

Perfect! I hope you enjoy them!

 

[bj taylor]

so, I obviously don't understand garlic. y'all are saying the stalk that grows up to be a beautiful "flower" is a "scape" & should be cut so the plant puts more energy into the bulb?
I thought the "flower" had to form, dry, and bend - then it was time to harvest the garlic.

 

[seedcorn]

I've been taught to break off seed heads in garlic and onions so energy goes into bulb. So I do. May b wrong but I do.

 

[majorcatfish]

know what i am going to have on my steak tonight and mixed in with the hash browns in the morning.......yum


you are correct seedcorn..