Time to take the loss on garlic?

[DrMike27]

All of my garlic leaves recently died off. I dug up a couple bulbs and they are only the size of about a quarter each. Anything I can/should do? Or is this crop lost?

 

[NigelJ]

If the leaves have died off that's it for this year, the bulbs will get no bigger I'd reveiw the variety I was growing to see if there was one more suited to my local conditions.

 

[Chuck]

When did you plant and what did you fertilize with? Did you plant grocery store cloves?

 

[zigs]

Grocery store cloves are usually treated with a growth inhibitor to prolong shelf life. That results in small bulbs.

Try again in October with some seed cloves from a nursery

 

[DrMike27]

Grocery store cloves are usually treated with a growth inhibitor to prolong shelf life. That results in small bulbs.

Try again in October with some seed cloves from a nursery

I did use a store bought clove that has sprouted. I started them in February and used a basic 10-10-10 fertilizer (don’t recall the brand name). It makes sense that the bulbs would be tiny now that you mention the growth inhibitor bit.

 

[DirtMechanic]

Damned phytohormones. Still, as a famous eater of garlic, there are so many types, and some have HUGE bulbs. No need to settle for the tiny ones.

 

[DrMike27]

Damned phytohormones. Still, as a famous eater of garlic, there are so many types, and some have HUGE bulbs. No need to settle for the tiny ones.

Any recommendations?

 

[zigs]

They also need over winter to make root growth so they can get away in spring

 

[Tetters]

Any recommendations?

If you were in the UK we would suggest 'Solent Wight' from the Isle of Wight ..... but not sure what varieties you have there.

 

[Chuck]

Any recommendations?

A couple of good varieties are California Early and Silverskin. Plant the cloves in September-October

 

[headfullofbees]

They also need over winter to make root growth so they can get away in spring

They also need the cold of winter to bulb properly.
I harvested my garlic yesterday, and I'll try to post a photo

 

[headfullofbees]

This year's garlic; not quite as good as last year's, but we haven't had the weather.

 

[Arden Sage]

Garlic should be planted on the shortest day (UK terms = 21 December) which will expose it to low winter temperatures - and then harvested on the longest day (UK terms -- 21 June). It does like to feel a hard frost/bit of a freeze over winter. That's the traditional wisdom any way. February may simply have been too warm to have given it the best start in life.
Nice haul @headfullofbees