Hardneck garlic making no scapes
 

So what could be the reasons?
I got it 2 years ago from someone, it's definitely hardneck. Last year it made no scapes. Now this year I'm planting a bit of those and a new one, also definitely hardneck. Again no sign of scapes on any of them, and I doubt they will.
I have only a few planted in a container on the balcony, they have a decent number of cloves, although small (last year I mean).

Wonder if they are a weakly bolting type they make scapes some years and not others, the stem is softer then a true hardneck.

Perhaps the light environment is not generating the correct cues? Have other varieties scaped for you in pots in this location?

No way in your area is it time for garlic to make scapes.
Worth

Garlic likes loose soil...maybe your soil is compacted?

Well, the balcony, in the city, is much warmer than if it would be in a field.
Location is kinda west, so not full sun, but everything else is growing really well, including tomatoes and shallots.
Last year they didn't make any, and now it's quite tall, and rather thin, this is why I don't think it will make any again.
Soil is peat mix, quite nice, it's not compacted.
Maybe it's inadequate spacing (I read that they inhibit each other through roots if too close)?.

Maybe not enough nitrogen.
Worth

Are there lights that would interrupt the night period? Onions are daylength sensitive I suspect garlic is too. Actually it is the uninterrupted night period that counts so a streetlight or porch light might have an affect.

[QUOTE=gdaddybill;640622]Are there lights that would interrupt the night period? Onions are daylength sensitive I suspect garlic is too.[/QUOTE]

I think you nailed it.
Worth

I'm not sure that our garlic always got scapes, but we do have a more compact soil. After we got some bark mulch down, though, they sure produced them (and they were delicious). They may have had too much drought, before, though.

All my garlic are in container and now scapes are coming out. It might the same as succulents that it has to go through distress to produce scapes. We had so much rain at the beginning of the year, then a sudden high heat, then cold again.

I just noticed scapes forming on my elephant garlic, but my regular garlic hasn't started yet. It is hard to know what effect our roller coaster weather is having this year.

[QUOTE=gdaddybill;640622]Are there lights that would interrupt the night period? Onions are daylength sensitive I suspect garlic is too.[/QUOTE]

Well, there is a higher amount of light on the street at night than on a filed, not sure how much that should affect them, could be a problem though.
By odd coincidence today I noticed that some scapes are forming :lol:
Only on the new variety though, I think the one from last year which didn't have any still won't have it.

The streetlights should not prevent the scape formation since up here it does not get dark at all during June and all my fall planted or cold treated hardecks produce scapes.

Our cold winters and cool summers cause most of the softneck types to bolt so that the bulbils are in the middle of the stem on top of a 2-3 inch tall hard stalk. When this type of garlic is harvested and the stem cut, you can not tell it apart from the real hardnecks.

Sari

Hm, I think you have a point there. I remember seeing in my aunt's garden (from who I took the garlic) some odd garlics with bulbils a few cm above ground in the neck. So that is a softneck?
What exactly causes it? Is it because she planted it wrong in the autumn and it was exposed to the cold and starts to act as a hardneck?

Some folks feel that bulbils forming lower on the stem is a stress response.

[QUOTE=PhilaGardener;640715]Some folks feel that bulbils forming lower on the stem is a stress response.[/QUOTE]

It's aliens. :lol:
Worth

[QUOTE=Worth1;640725]It's aliens. :lol:
Worth[/QUOTE]

True :dizzy::love::))

[QUOTE=zipcode;640494]

I got it 2 years ago from someone, it's definitely hardneck. Last year it made no scapes. Now this year I'm planting a bit of those and a new one, also definitely hardneck. Again no sign of scapes on any of them, and I doubt they will.

[/QUOTE]



Just curious -- how do you know it's "definitely hardneck" if it hasn't produced scapes in the two years you've grown it? By definition, a hardneck produces a scape. Did the person you got it from tell you what variety is was supposed to be?

[QUOTE=Father'sDaughter;640759]Just curious -- how do you know it's "definitely hardneck" if it hasn't produced scapes in the two years you've grown it? By definition, a hardneck produces a scape. Did the person you got it from tell you what variety is was supposed to be?[/QUOTE]

I agree, my first guess is maybe it isn't a hardneck.

My other thought is, maybe last year (the first year you grew this garlic?) there was stress such that it did not produce scapes. Now as far as this year, I believe it is too early for scapes--at least here in Wisconsin (~43N latitude) I usually don't get scapes until mid June.

[QUOTE=Father'sDaughter;640759]Just curious -- how do you know it's "definitely hardneck" if it hasn't produced scapes in the two years you've grown it? By definition, a hardneck produces a scape. Did the person you got it from tell you what variety is was supposed to be?[/QUOTE]
I have seen the garden, it had scapes at that time (also some of them had these bulbils suspended in the neck as svalli said), also the hardneck leaves a hard woody thing in the middle of the cloves.

[QUOTE=zipcode;640768]I have seen the garden, it had scapes at that time (also some of them had these bulbils suspended in the neck as svalli said), also the hardneck leaves a hard woody thing in the middle of the cloves.[/QUOTE]



The hard woody thing is the actually the base of the scape stalk.

Keep us posted on what the end up doing this year!

[QUOTE=PhilaGardener;640655]I just noticed scapes forming on my elephant garlic, but my regular garlic hasn't started yet. It is hard to know what effect our roller coaster weather is having this year.[/QUOTE]

Elephant garlic isn't actually in the garlic family, it's related to leeks.

[QUOTE=RayR;640881]Elephant garlic isn't actually in the garlic family, it's related to leeks.[/QUOTE]
Right,t but I have never been able to wrap my mind around it.:lol:

Did you plant in spring or fall? I think spring planting can cause them to not produce scapes?

But honestly, if you have some bulbil things down in the stem, I think it is a softneck. Those bulbils look so cool!!! Like growing your own garden gnomes. ;):twisted:

I think we have came to the conclusion it is artichoke garlic.
Yes dont ask me why but that is what soft neck is called.
Worth

[QUOTE=Worth1;640884]Right,t but I have never been able to wrap my mind around it.:lol:[/QUOTE]

How about Garlic Chives are closely related to onions, not garlic.

[QUOTE=RayR;640917]How about Garlic Chives are closely related to onions, not garlic.[/QUOTE]
Might as well add potato onions.:dizzy:
Worth

[QUOTE=Worth1;640920]Might as well add potato onions.:dizzy:
Worth[/QUOTE]



Which some people mistake for shallots...

zipcode, Does your aunt grow the ones with real scapes and the ones with the bulbils in the neck in same bed mixed with each other? She must have at least two different garlic varieties, if some have scapes and others have bulbils lower at the stem. If she has not separated the varieties at harvest time, you may have gotten a softneck bulb with hard stem in the middle due to the bulbils close to the neck.

I'm growing multiple garlic varieties and keeping the varieties separate at harvest and curing time is a lot of work.

Sari