Grow Your Own Magazine

Hi,

Been down to the plot today and noticed that one of my garlics has gone very yellow and withered - please tell me it's just ready to pick before the others!

a picture, which may help:

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/albu...98529352&fit=1

looks like your photo-album is in a private area - can't access the picture

Some garlic, autumn planted, can be ready in May... but the weather hasn't exactly been good for it this last month.

Can you have a dig down and see if the bulb is fully formed?

oh, thanks Cutecumber - I'll see what I can do to make it public.

Basically all of the leaves have gone yellow and withered - don't know why - the plants next to it are fine - I hope it hasn't got rust? (not really sure how to recognise that)

Sigh - it was the very first thing I planted on the plot.

can you see it now?

http://www.photobox.co.uk/album/albu...photo=98529352

HI
I would just dig it up, it looks ready to me, make sure the bulb is fully grown and split into colves. if not dig the one out to the left in your picture that looks like its going the same way.

Ok I wish I hadn't looked now - my plants are puny by comparison!

I'm not worried for you, I'm jealous

once they turn yellow they are ready if you leave them in to long the bulbs start to shrink

I really hope they are ready - they were planted in December and I thought they weren't supposed to be ready till July. Will pull it up tomorrow and see. How do I dry them out in all this rain?

If the leaves have gone yellow and withered you may as well pull it up as it's not going to do any more growing or developing. Even if it hasn't made a decent size bulb you can still use it providing it's not soft or rotten.

It will not rain for ever mine have been lying on the ground since last wednesday so do not worry i am sure they will be alright jacob

I read on a website that you should pull up one bulb and see how many sheaths (very thin papery layers around the bulb) you can peel off the bulb - if there are only three, harvest the bulbs, if there are four or more, wait another two weeks or until most of the leaves have turned brown.

It looks ready to me. I wouldn't worry about storing it. For that amount of garlic just get on and use it within the next few weeks. Very jealous.

__________________

From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

News to me Jacob, interesting.

My autumn planted garlic nearly ready, things are a bit early this year.

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Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

well, I pulled up the most withered one and it came out very easily, not very big but looks like it's split into cloves...bit slimy though, which was worrying. I meant to take a picture and ask everyones advice (hope I haven't got eelworm or anything like that!) but left camera at home - will do tomorrow...bit worried though.

looks ready to me, they need a day or so somwhere dry once picked to dry out, think you'll be fine!

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Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
and your produce will be bountifull

Gone yellow? Then time to come out. Good luck with the crop, I've never had luck with garlic or onions on my plot, I water and water and water and they never grow - do I have petulant onions or what?

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Best wishes
Andrewo
Harbinger of Rhubarb tales

Alliums with attitude?

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Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 17th - The Big Dig

Slimey bit is a bit worrying Queen, have they got white mould on the bottom?

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Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

The natural state of garlic could be described as slimey though. Their juice is sticky. It might not be anything to worry about.

__________________
Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

www.vegheaven.blogspot.com

Updated November 17th - The Big Dig

Yep, that's wht I asked about mould, Some of mine definately HAVE got white rot and all have developed bad rust in the last fortnight or so. They're limping over the line....bit dissapointed really.

__________________
Advertising is the rattling of a stick in a swill bucket. George Orwell
Paul

I don't think there is any mould - but thanks for letting me know what to look out for. I've not grown garlic before, so unsure what to expect.

And last night I dreamed that I took a friend down to the plot to show it off and all of my onions were rotten. I think I might be worrying too much.

Hmmm mine have gone the same Ipulled one last night to have a look at it came up very easy but it isnt split into cloves it just looks like one bulb not very big either, decided not to pull any more and see what happens as I wasnt expecting to pull them till end July beg aug anyway my question is should they be split into cloves yet?

mine are but i planted about 2 weeks before shortest day.

__________________
Yo an' Bob
Walk lightly on the earth
take only what you need
give all you can
and your produce will be bountifull

read the thread with interest as its my firsy year at growing garlic aswell.mine are just starting to yellow.my question is what is the best thing to be planted after garlic??space is premium in my little plot and want to plant it soon as garlics out.g