Garlic - another question

[Susiebelle]

I lifted my over wintering garlic - not the best harvest I have ever had - however some of the bulbs have a couple of inches of stalk and then a further cluster of very small cloves, never seen the likes.  Is it another form of 'going to seed? they did not throw up a flower or any thing resembling a seed head.

I have been drawing on everyones experience a lot over the last couple of weeks and would be grateful once again if anyone can throw any light on this peculiarity!

[Susiebelle]

[chriscross1966]

One of my hardnecks did it too.... ALl the alliums can use all the allium vegetative  reproduction methods under certain circumstances, but they all tend to specialise on one or two of them.... Elephant garlic uses basal offsets like these quite a lot for instance....

Probably the combination of environmental conditions this year....


chrisc

[Wilder]

yes, I had this happen. One had it immediately on top of the bulb and another had it half-way up the stem. interesting

[Robert_Brenchley]

I get them doing that every year, it seems to be quite normal.

[Susiebelle]

It sounds like it's nothing to worry about - many thanks