Garlic Lovers Can Grow Their Own Garlic Growing from Bulbils takes 2-3 years but the garlic will be more adapted to your soil and climate Please see our individual listings for more details about the varieties different varieties have various sized bulbils Mixed bulbils are 90% Fitzki but may have other varieties mixed in Weight is at time of sorting. ( weight may be less as bulbils will dry and lose moisture over time) B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B-B **Garlic bulbils** are small, aerial seed-like structures that form in the flower heads (scapes) of certain garlic varieties, particularly hardneck garlic. Unlike cloves, which develop underground, bulbils grow above ground and look like tiny garlic cloves. They are essentially garlic's reproductive method, similar to seeds, though garlic rarely produces true seeds. ### **Why Grow Garlic Bulbils?** 1. **Disease-free planting material:** Bulbils develop above ground, so they are less likely to be contaminated with soil-borne diseases that can affect garlic bulbs and cloves. 2. **Cost-effective propagation:** Instead of buying garlic cloves for planting, which can be expensive, you can gather bulbils from your own garlic plants. Over time, this method allows you to produce a larger quantity of garlic for planting at little to no cost. 3. **Preservation of garlic genetics:** Growing garlic from bulbils helps maintain the specific characteristics of the parent plant, especially in hardneck garlic, which can produce inconsistent results from cloves due to genetic drift. 4. **Large-scale production:** A single garlic scape can produce dozens of bulbils, giving you the potential for a high-volume crop after a few growing cycles. ### **How to Grow Garlic from Bulbils** 1. **Collecting Bulbils:** - In late summer, garlic plants produce a flower stalk called a scape. If left uncut, the scape will develop a cluster of bulbils at the top. - Cut the scape once the bulbils have fully formed and are drying out. Store them in a cool, dry place until you're ready to plant. 2. **Planting:** - **Timing:** Plant garlic bulbils in the fall, about 6-8 weeks before the first hard frost. This timing allows them to establish roots before winter. - **Soil:** Prepare well-draining soil rich in organic matter, similar to the requirements for garlic cloves. - **Planting depth:** Plant bulbils about 1 inch deep and 4-6 inches apart, just like cloves. - **Mulching:** Mulch heavily with straw or leaves to protect the bulbils over winter and to suppress weeds. 3. **Growing Cycle:** - **First year:** In the first year, bulbils typically form small, undivided "rounds" or very small bulbs, which look like small garlic bulbs but have no cloves. - **Second year:** Replant these rounds the following fall. Generally, in the second growing season, they will grow into full-sized garlic bulbs with multiple cloves. - **Third year:** Some may not be able to produce full size in the second year and may need a 3rd year. 4. **Care:** - Water regularly during dry periods, especially in spring when garlic is actively growing. - Fertilize lightly with compost or an organic fertilizer to support growth. 5. **Harvesting:** - Garlic grown from bulbils is harvested just like garlic grown from cloves, once the leaves begin to yellow and die back in midsummer. Growing garlic from bulbils takes patience but offers long-term benefits by increasing disease resistance and helping maintain specific garlic varieties. It is a sustainable way to propagate garlic while saving money over time. g=g=g=g=g=g=g==g=g=g=g=g=g=g=g=g=g=g=g= There are many different Garlic varieties- Even if you say garlic is garlic, we recommend growing different varieties- some come earlier and will give you fresh garlic sooner. Some store longer and will allow you to have garlic through the winter. =s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s==s=s=s=s=s=s=s= VARIETIES WE GROW We have at least one variety of all the different Hardneck Families. Please check with us for up to date availability PORCELAIN- Fitzki, Music, German White Hardneck, Italian*, Yugoslavian* PURPLE STRIPE- Mexican Purple, MARBLED PURPLE STRIPE- Bogatyr, Duganskij GLAZED PURPLE STRIPE- Purple Glazer, Red Rezan* ROCAMBOLE- Spanish Roja , German Red, Russian Red CREOLE- Rose de Lautrec, Ajo Roja* or Ajo Rojo ASIATIC -Japanese, Korean Red* TURBAN- Thai, Chinook* SOFTNECK ARTICHOKE- Transylvanian, Sicilian Gold* SOFTNECK SILVERSKIN- Nootka Rose* ---------------------------------------- =s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s==s=s=s=s=s=s=s= Seed Shipping: Flat Rate Low Shipping fee- no matter how many seeds you order! Add this item to your cart and keep shopping- at https://www.ebay.ca/usr/okiger-2i55iwk =s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s=s==s=s=s=s=s=s=s= Shipping of Seeds and Cuttings: Orders are shipped via Canada Post Mail unless otherwise specified. Some items are shipped without tracking to keep costs low. This is the most economical option. Canada Post is incredibly reliable, but can be slow. If you require tracking or a faster delivery please message before ordering. We try to ship any live plants on MONDAYS or TUESDAYS as a precautionary measure to avoid delays over the weekend and ensure the viability of live plant orders. Weather may be a contributing factor in the processing of our orders and will occasionally cause some delay. We will ship seeds anywhere in the world, however, please make sure you check with your country's customs office to be sure that they are allowed in. We will not be held responsible for orders held, confiscated and/or destroyed by customs. 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