General information and discussion about cultivating onions, garlic, shallots and leeks.
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May 30, 2011 | #1 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: East of Stockton, California
Posts: 97
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odd garlic growth weather related?
I have grown chesnock red garlic for several years successfully, and always before have seen spathes on most of the plants. This year I have seen zero flowers on a couple of hundred plants, and the few I have pulled have single, large bulbs (not the usual cluster of cloves.) I know garlic has several growth habits in wild plants, presumably to assure survival in harsh and unpredictable conditions, but I've never seen more than a few like this in any one year. Anybody know if this is usual in odd weather years like this one? Dave
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June 6, 2011 | #2 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Midway B.C. Canada
Posts: 311
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cold stratification of the garlic likly did not happen, did you have a warmer winter then normal?
henry
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Henry |
June 6, 2011 | #3 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: East of Stockton, California
Posts: 97
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Actually it was colder, longer, and wetter than usual. I planted in mid-October and had excellent emergence, and the plants overwintered without incident. They just didn't mature as they normally do, although once I pulled them they were better than I thought they would be. They are still very moist, though, and I am trying to dry them ASAP.
I'm not familiar with the term 'cold stratification'. Could you explain that to me, please? Thanks, Dave |
June 6, 2011 | #4 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: East of Stockton, California
Posts: 97
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Found a wikipedia on cold stratification, interesting term. Where I live the summers get to over 100°F, and I have a hard time keeping things cool enough to survive the heat. Last summer a fair amount of my garlic went bad before I could use it, and that may have affected the bulbs I kept for seed, although they looked fine when I planted them. But as I said earlier, they emerged fine and survived the winter apparently in good shape.
This year I am building a straw bale 'root cellar' under an oak tree, hoping to beat the heat, and I am going to research the possibility of more heat-tolerant varieties. Dave |
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