skip to main content

Harvest had small number of dried bulbs

9 months ago

Every year I get a percentage of bulbs that appear dried out (after I harvest). I just harvested this week, and there were about 20 out of 140 bulbs like this. I always thought I waited too long to pick, but I don't think it's the case. Perhaps something (slug?) eating the stalk?

Just wondering if this is common and any way to prevent next time. Thank you!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (2)

zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
9 months ago
The cloves are exposed - so it looks like you harvested too late. Presumably all the leaves were dead when dug? Those appear to be a hard neck variety (those which form a solid stem). To get good bulb skins, about 50% of the total leaf area should still be green when harvested. As a rule of thumb for hard necks, every green or partially green leaf represents a layer of skin on the bulb. Layers of bulb skin decay quickly once the attached leaf dies..

Most of those bulbs & cloves will be OK for eating & planting, but are likely to store poorly. You might be able to extend their storage life by putting them in a bucket on the floor of an unheated basement (if you have one), I did that last year & still have good cloves remaining. Otherwise any cloves which will not be eaten or planted should be dehydrated or frozen before they spoil.
J. thanked zeedman Zone 5 Wisconsin
J.
Original Author
9 months ago
Thanks zeedman!

I usually harvest all plants in early July; at same time. I have 120-130 total, and only 15-20 of them have this problem. It appears to me that even if I picked these two weeks earlier they would have had issues.

Are you suggesting to inspect/monitor all the plants as harvest approaches, and selectively harvest at ~50% brown leaves? Makes sense and I'll give it a try next season.

It just looks like something might have nibbled on the stalk, and limited the leaf life line to the bulb. However, I'm just an armature grower.

Thanks again!
Related Discussions
Garlic foliage dried, really small bulb!
Q
Comments (4)
The small bulb you dug up will not continue to grow this season, and if you leave it in the ground each clove will sprout to make a cluster of small garlic bulbs next year. You can cure it and replant the small individual cloves in the Fall, but small cloves yield small bulbs. I would just pull it again and use it in cooking. Hopefully your other plants will yield larger bulbs. Pull them when you have 2-3 green leaves left. You might want to consider some Porcelains for next years crop, like German White or Music. These tend to make larger bulbs and have pretty good storage properties. And if you get some decently large bulbs from your other plants this year, save the largest and use them for seed next year as well. Replanted garlic cloves tend to give larger bulbs each year as they acclimate to your garden. Here is a great place to buy garlic for your Fall planting: http://www.wegrowgarlic.com/catalog TomNJ
...See More
harvesting baby bulbs
Q
Comments (5)
The bulbs are just below or at the surface and used to be attached to the old stem. The stem has probably died back/rotted by now. You can gently dig up the bulbs. The shot will probably have developped by now. Our crocus are just starting and some lilies are already above ground. Just be careful and look before you dig. A small hand trovel will do it. Don't go digging with a big spade. You can harvest the bulblets and transplant them to another place in the garden. You really gain very little by bringing them indoors and growing there now. They do just as well in the ground, and would start to sprout naturally anyway. You can also leave them for next fall after the flower stem dies back. At this time you can dig without risk of damaging shots. Here are some pictures: Picture 1: show the various sizes of the bulblets Picture 2: show a bulblet close up with roots Notice the stem and the bulblets forming around the stem. After the stem has rotted/pulled in winter, the bulblets are left. The new shot may grow up same place but more likely somewhere near the bulblets. The shots don't always appear at the same place year after year Note the withered (yellow) flower stem and the green leaves ? The green leaves are bulblets which have sprouted. This shows you the location of the bulblets
...See More
2008 warm weather crop harvest numbers
Q
Comments (23)
EG, I planted one hill of zucchini (3 seeds) and thinned out the weakest, so I ended up letting two grow. The weaker one I transplanted elswhere in the garden, and it just began giving me zuccs, I think I've probably picked four from that one. From the hill? I'd have to guess I was averaging 3-4 per day for quite a while, now I'm only getting 3-4 per week. BUT, as I said elsewhere, it is beginning to put out a lot of new blossoms and baby zuccs again, and we're looking at a good month or more of good weather. I know you are a zucchini freak, so you'd probably consume more of them than we do, and I'm not freezing any shredded/sliced zucchini and you probably will. So, I think four total plants might be about right for you. I wouldn't do any more, and it will give you some idea as to how many you'll want for the next year. Today I harvested (from the same gardens as my previous post) the typical 6-7 pounds. Tomatoes 2 lb., cherry tomatoes 3/4 lb., cucumbers 1-1/4 lb., green beans 10 oz., yellow crookneck squash 1 lb. 6 oz., mesclun greens 4 oz. and 2 green peppers that were not ready to pick, but the wind broke the stem off...4 oz. I think that comes to 6 -1/2 pounds for today. Now, admit it. Does your kitchen windowsill look like mine all summer? Granny Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden
...See More
What small vegie/fruit can I plant in July for harvest by November?
Q
Comments (11)
I've done OK. I get enough to last me until next harvest... and we love garlic. This fall will be the first year that I will be able to plant my own seed. They are in the refrigerator now for an October planting date. You might want to look at http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3024807/garlic-experiment-results?n=6 and http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3943934/another-year-of-florida-garlic-in-the-kitchen?n=12 The picture is from last winter. It is some of the 10 week chill plants from the 10/12 week chill split. Shallots in the background.
...See More

Related Stories

URBAN GARDENS Harvest the Bounty of a Patio Garden

By Marianne Lipanovich

Make the most of small spaces on decks and balconies to enjoy your pick of vegetables, fruits and herbs

INSPIRING GARDENS A Small Backyard Haven With Secluded Seating

By Sarah Alcroft

The journey through this English garden reveals a new view at every turn, from tall trees to grasses and a pretty pond

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Ditch the Ordinary Ditch: Create a Realistic Dry Creek Bed

By Jay Sifford Garden Design

Here’s how to turn your water runoff system into an eye-catching accent for your landscape

GARDENING GUIDES Small Gem Lawns: More Impact From Less Grass

By Carol Crotta

Instead of letting the lawn sprawl, make it a shapely design element in your yard. You’ll reap benefits both practical and aesthetic

FALL GARDENING 6 Splendid Blue-Flowering Bulbs

By Therese Ciesinski

How do you blue? With colors from sky to cobalt, these bulbs will greet you merrily in a spring garden

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Thalictrum Dioicum Thrives in Dry Shade

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant early meadow-rue in eastern U.S. woodland gardens for its tolerance of dry sites and shade

GARDENING GUIDES 6 Ways to Grow Edibles in Small Places

By Matt Kilburn

No big backyard? Join in the grow-your-own fun with these small-space ideas for planting vegetables, fruits and herbs

SMALL KITCHENS Kitchen of the Week: A Small Galley With Maximum Style and Efficiency

By Becky Harris

An architect makes the most of her family’s modest kitchen, creating a continuous flow with the rest of the living space

SMALL KITCHENS 12 Genius Design Moves for Small Kitchens

By Natasha Saroca

These space-enhancing tricks can make compact cooking zones look and feel larger

KITCHEN DESIGN Kitchen of the Week: A Cooking Maven's Small Kitchen

By Vanessa Brunner

A food blogger shows that an amazing meal can be whipped up in any size kitchen with the right tools, storage and attitude

Sponsored

John Romans Construction

1 Review

Franklin County's Full Service, Turn-Key Construction & Design Company

More Discussions

Walking Onions Pollination

0

comfrey tea overwintered

1