It is basically the old debate on to prune or not to prune be it tomato plants or melons or grapes. It often boils down to whether you want size (which some equate to quality) or quantity. It is the nature of most any vine that if you snip it once it is longer than 4 or 5 nodes it will sprout 1-2 new secondary vines vines from the node just below the cut. The before-sniping length of that 4-5 node vine will vary from vine type to vine type. So now you'll have 2 vines rather than just 1. Assuming the circulatory system of the central vine is not compromised and that sufficient nutrients and water are available, in theory, those 2 secondary vines could produce more than the single vine would have. 2x as much? Likely no. 1/2 again as much? Perhaps. However the fruit produced will often be smaller - more but smaller. But this is not to say that NO fruit is produced if the vine is NOT cut. That isn't true. There may be less in number but often larger in size simply because the fruit is produced on the primary vine, the main artery of the plant if you will, rather than on a secondary vine. The choice is yours to snip or not. Just make sure the central vine (it isn't a stalk) is of sufficient length and diameter to support what will develop after you make the cut. Needless to say this is an over-simplification but I hope this helps. Dave

If they were turning dry it probably means the heads were ready for lifting anyway. I would dig them up and cure them. Obviously you can't hang them with no leaves. What you might do instead is make some drying rackes with scrap wood and hardware cloth. Lay the garlic out on them and keep in a warm, airy place but out of direct sun. In a few weeks they should be ready to put up. Of course, there's no reason not to eat them fresh, either.

i wouldnt be concerned about what the old stalk does .. but i cant tell from your pic.. if the shoots are growing right thru it ... or beside it ... regardless.. my gut tells me.. its just drying and shedding the old stalk material ... [but sometimes my gut and i dont get along.. and it lies to me ... lol] its an experiment.. yes??? .. ignore it.. let us know.. the shoots look really nice ... so i dont see what you need to do ... ken

Compost the stalks. As a deep-rooted plant, comfrey "mines" minerals from deep in the soil, so is a valuable addition to your compost pile/bin. You'll find that shoots come up all over; pull the ones that venture where not wanted and either toss them, also, into the compost, or lay by other plants as a mulch. They'll enrich the soil.