Problems with Garlic

I have grown Garlic (Solent White Spring planted) for 3 years. In the first year I had an excellent crop, but for the last 2 years the bulbs have failed to form fully. The stems of the garlic when growing seem thin compared to the first year, so they get blown over in the wind. Although cloves have formed and are edible, the outer skin is missing so I have 'naked' bulbs. Anyone any ideas why this might be happening?

 

Were the bulbs left in in the ground after the tops had died and then subjected to a period of wet weather before being lifted?

That's what I attributed this to when it happened to me with some garlic many years ago. The individual cloves were also opening outwards and separating.

 

i agree with scrungee. i grow my garlic in pots, once the stems start to brown i take them into the greenhouse,cause staying in Glasgow wer'e never too far from rain.

 

My overwintered garlic had no cloves this year - they looked just like small onions. I assumed it was the very severe winter here (also near Glasgow)

 

I've only grown garlic this year for the first time, so bear with me.:D

Just using a bit of growing sense from other crops.

Are you using bulbs saved from previous years? Or newly purchased bulbs.

 

I thought my garlic was going to stay in rounds but it seems to have cloves now.

I'm a bit worried all the rain we've had wont be helping but I have no space in my greenhouse for them. The leaves are starting to die off but still got a wee bit to go...

I didnt overwinter, just planted early spring. Think it was solent white. Also near Glasgow.

 

Scrungree - think you might be right... During 2 weeks of holidays away, the tops had gone over completely and there had been quite a bit of rain during that time, so maybe the outer skin rotted away. Will try lifting them out earlier next year.

Pete - I purchased new bulbs each season.

 

If left in the ground they'll start sprouting and being in clumps will stunt them.

 

A couple of mine look like they have started to sprout but the top parts hadnt really died off much. What to do in that kind of situation? How will we know that they're ready for lifting?

Will they still be edible?

 

Now I understand abit more and will plant the "rounds" from my autumn planting for next year, although we have eaten some of them. My spring planted cloves are also "naked" ! So mixed results but we still eat them. I take it these don't keep so well?