Well, I do not know why they were there either. Perhaps this winter I will take the time to investigate that. I find it such an odd place for those "toes" to form. You are right, Bunkie--they were tasty.
Hiya GP--I am not 100% sure what a scape is. I heard the term for the first a couple of years ago when Carolyn used it. I asked her what it meant and I understood from her that a scape was a flower stem that shot up from a garlic plant. The little cloves that are in the stem are just cloves as far as I know. I am very interested to know why the cloves develop there in the shaft...and what this condition is called. I know many english words, but this one I am now again not sure of.
Sjoerd, The scapes grow at the tip of the plant. They're actually seeds, in my opinion. On some garlic stems, the scapes grow quite large. Large enough to be planted as I have done. I plant them around roses to ward off Aphids. Eventually the garlic heads grown from scapes become rather large. I assume the cloves which grew on your garlic stems may be larger due to being nearer the parent plant? I only surmise. I reckon we have discussed this topic in enough depth. LOL
Hahaha...yes, I reckon that you are right. At any rate you have enlightened me that scapes are not the stems but rather the bulbils that form at the ends of the stem. I appreciate that info. Thanks. I have heard that some folks fry those and eat them. I must try that sometime, as I do like the flavour of garlic with some foods.
An update on garlic. I see garlic leaves above ground, so I rest assured of a garlic crop in 2014. I set out fewer cloves as we seem to use less as we age, but 3 short rows seems enough.
Oh, you lucky so-'n-so!...You've got leaves above ground. Not me yet. I look every day. hahaha. I am not impatient, am I?
Sjoerd, when did you set it out? I planted mine a month ago today, September 19th. Maybe your climate is cooler than here? If you're anything like me, yes, you are impatient. I kept looking every day. Finally.
I haven't even gotten mine in the ground yet, but I am thinking it will be okay. I need to get a move on, though.
I always worry a little bit with the garlics. That is because I live in such a moist country. Since I planted the garlics it has rained a little bit almost every day. With this much rain, I am concerned about the development of fungus on the planted garlic cloves.
Sjoerd, I think good drainage is a necessity with most crops. I do understand that garlic doesn't require great soil. Just loose enough for expansion. I wish you and Carolyn success.
