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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: grotbag on May 13, 2009, 15:36:19

Title: elephant garlic
Post by: grotbag on May 13, 2009, 15:36:19
Hi all,my elephant garlic( 1st time of growing it ) has what i asssume are flower bulbs forming.Should i cut these off or just leave them?
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: Tee Gee on May 13, 2009, 15:39:36
QuoteShould i cut these off or just leave them?

Yes! Just nip the bud off with your thumb & forefinger, no need to cut off the stem.

To do sow creates the potential for water to sit in the hollow stem and rot the bulb.
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: grotbag on May 13, 2009, 15:41:55
thanks tee gee
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 13, 2009, 18:52:48
They're quite ornamental, but you'll get appreciably bigger bulbs if you take them off.
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: elvis2003 on May 13, 2009, 19:24:32
sorry to go (slightly)off topic,but would the same apply to onions?im getting the odd flower forming on ours (overwintering onions)
thanks in advance
rach
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: Tee Gee on May 13, 2009, 19:54:17
Quotebut would the same apply to onions

Yes!
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: elvis2003 on May 13, 2009, 20:02:58
 ;D ta!
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: manicscousers on May 13, 2009, 20:04:04
I pull onions up if they're going to seed, just eat them  ;D
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 13, 2009, 21:44:20
If they try to bolt they won't store, so use them first. The same doesn't apply to garlic.
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: grannyjanny on May 14, 2009, 07:55:08
My elephant garlic is not showing any sign of life unlike the other garlic which was planted at the same time. Should I pull it up or leave it a bit longer.
Janet
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: 1066 on May 14, 2009, 08:07:09
What do you mean "not showing signs of life" - no shoots at all ?
Mine aren't doing a great deal they are  just pootling along, and from what I remember I don't expect to start pulling them until after June. So I'd leave them for a while yet (but am no expert !!)
1066
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: grannyjanny on May 14, 2009, 08:15:07
No signs of life, nothing. I meant pull them out to dispose of not to use.
Janet
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: delboy on May 14, 2009, 08:17:53
Mine probably went in late - April(mid) - and they are only about 2" above the surfave.

As they aren't taking up that much space I'll just do the "wait and see" thingy
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: 1066 on May 14, 2009, 08:18:14
What a shame, sounds like they have rotted, why not have a poke around?
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: chriscross1966 on May 14, 2009, 08:36:23
Quote from: 1066 on May 14, 2009, 08:18:14
What a shame, sounds like they have rotted, why not have a poke around?
The same seems to have happened with mine.... went into pots in February (I didn't have the plot at the time) but although there's the odd root at the bottom there's no top growth at all..... :(.... And I killed all my normal garlic (or nearly all of it) with spraydrift from some weedkiller I was using on a path :( :(

chrisc
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: Robert_Brenchley on May 14, 2009, 08:43:30
Mine's well over a foot high. Definitely dig around and see what's happening!
Title: Re: elephant garlic
Post by: Jokerman on May 19, 2009, 22:05:02
Panted mine in November.... looking great at the moment. (",)