http://durgan.org/2016/July%202016/14%20July%202016%20Garlic/HTML/ 14 July 2016 Garlic
The garlic was serviced to produce Bulbils, and Rounds for planting in October 2016. The row of bulbils planted in 2015 produced 40 rounds, which will planted to produce first year garlic which is always slightly smaller than the product from a mature clove, and usually fewer cloves.
The bulbil row has died off and finding the small rounds takes a bit of sifting soil. One bulb produced from a round was pulled and photographed. The cloves of this bulb will be planted in October 2016 and will produce a normal sized bulb, a clone of the original. Needing seed, a few of the seed or bulbil pods were wrapped in gauze until maturity to prevent seed dispersal as they dry.
To clarify: A clove is planted in October, Zone 5, and this produces a normal sized clone of the original bulb. It is usually harvested in July of the following year. This is the usual method of growing garlic.
My garlic also produces scapes, most hard neck garlic does, which are the long finger which produces the seed pod at the end. Scapes are often cut and utilized, but if left on and allowed to mature the pod at the end produces a pod with many seeds called bulbils. The bulbils can be planted and will produce a single small bulb called a round. The round planted the succeeding year will produce a slightly smaller bulb than the original. The cloves of this bulb when planted will produce a normal sized bulb exactly a clone of the original
No new garlic is ever produced. The plants are asexual.
