Topic: Elephant garlic bolting!!

[miniroots]

I've got a few different sorts of garlic growing happily since late last year -
But i've noticed that my Elephant Garlic is bolting...

What should I do???

Is this happening to anyone else?

[Hyacinth]

Mine are going to stampede any time now I reckon......just take off the head and they'll be fine to grow on - going to be an early crop of both my 'regular' garlics too 8)

[manicscousers]

not the garlic ...  yet, had a couple of onions start  :)

[Robert_Brenchley]

Take the heads off as fast as they appear. So far I've had one of my overwintering onions bolting, but that's all. Last year masses of onions bolted, but none of the garlic or elephant garlic.

[Linz_]

ok daft question number....?? (so many i lost count lol)....

What does it mean when you say... bolting??  Seen it on a few threads but still havnt managed to work it out lol

Thank you!!

[Robert_Brenchley]

They're producing flower stems.

[Linz_]

Ahhh!  thank you!  I'm guessing thats what has happened to the rhubarb on the plot next to mine then....as that had funny looking shooty (is that even a word?? lol) things growing out the top of them!  I did wonder when i was been a nosey bint today lol

[cambourne7]

i have been told that elephant garlic taken early makes solo garlic.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Pull the flowerstalks off the rhubarb; you want it putting its energy into leaves not seed.

[miniroots]

Thanks everyone - I'll nip it out.
Why do you think the elephant garlic is doing it and none of the other garlic??  All planted at the same time.?

[Robert_Brenchley]

The odd weather's probably pushed it over the edge, while the rest is just on the right side of it. Botanically, it's a leek not a garlic, so it probably behaves a bit differently.

[wavy]

my japaneese onions are bolting as well.
Im just breaking off the stem as low down as possible.
The actual onion looks massive, when is the eariest I can pick them

[Robert_Brenchley]

You could use them like spring onions now if you wanted, otherwise leave them till they start to keep over, then dry them as normal. Use the bolted ones as fast as you can as they won't last.

[OliveOil]

When i bought my EG from the garlic farm they said they are supposed to flower and to leave them on... Unfortunately i cant find the instructions now!

My jap onions are just starting to keel a bit so fingers crossed they wont be long!

[miniroots]

Oh!  I bought mine from the Garlic Farm too - I'll just go and look for the instructions...

[miniroots]

Found them!!
It says that you can keep the flower head - apparently it's massive; but to snip it off for bigger bulbs... 

The instructions say "leave a few to enjoy their magnificent display" - but I've only got one because we shared the pack between three of us...

And I got other flowering aliums on the plot, so I think the flower-head goes.

[Robert_Brenchley]

If you've only got a few, try one, and if you like it, plant the rest. It's really mild, but it's a useful additive to all sorts of dishes.