Should Garlic be allowed to seed.

[yotmon]

Just a quick one. I had about a dozen large cloves of garlic left over last September which had started to sprout green shoots, so in my infinite wisdom I stuck them in a raised bed in the garden. Although we had a really crap summer, for a couple of weeks after planting the weather went mild and they started to grow, something I didn't want seeing as they were to overwinter. Anyway, the weather quickly reverted to type and after the snow, frost, hail and rain they have survived and grown on well, even though we've had the coldest spring for 50 years. They are now 38" high, but I've noticed that they are producing a thin shoot which I assume will become a seed head. Should I allow them to produce a flower/seed or will this take nutrition from the bulb. I expect them to be ready around the end of July so they still have a couple of months to grow. Your thoughts.

Yotmon.

[crustyo44]

Hi,
Over the years I have grown lots of garlic from small to the real large bulbs, All go to seed if you let them.
I always used to snip the seed stalk off as it improves the size of the bulbs according to an old Italian neighbour I had.
Good Luck,
Jan.

[yotmon]

Cheers Jan, thought as much but didn't want to cause any damage to the plants without asking first. I have grown garlic years ago but planted them in March and harvested them the same year, this is the first time i've allowed them to grow over winter. Thanks again.

Ste.

[Snags]

garlic shoots(scapes) are pretty good in stir frys

[DiggingDogFarm]

I let the bulbils grow and use the bulbils in pickling and the like.



~Martin

[Kaiser Soze]

I've always harvested before they seed, but Jan's advice of cutting out the seed stalk is a good one.

[Ruralidle]

I saw a tv programme about the Isle of Wight garlic farm where they allow the seed head to develop a bit then cut them, dip them in tempura batter and quickly deep fry them to a light golden brown. Allegedly they taste nice, but I haven't tried it.