Potato and garlic

[Ian]

Both growing well this year in the garden:



On the left are potato flowers and the two stems on the right are garlic 'scapes' or flower stems. I understand that scapes never form flowers and instead produce 'bulbils' which are basically mini garlic plants - an any experts confirm? I read that scapes should be chopped off to help the garlic bulbs develop better.

Olympus OM-D E-M5, m.Zuiko 12-50mm f/3.5-6.3 in macro mode (25mm - equivalent to 50mm in FF), ISO 640, f/8, 100th second.

Ian

[angelpaaul]

Re: Potato and garlic

That's right Ian, the 'scapes' should be cut off as they take some of the energy away from the bulb. You can eat the scapes so don't throw them away.

[Ian]

Re: Potato and garlic

Scapes or 'scrapes'?

Ian

[Ian]

Re: Potato and garlic

Must admit I thought garlic was a warm weather plant but I also read that it needs a period of cool weather to trigger the dormant cloves start growing.

In that case how do they grow garlic in hot countries (where it is widely used of course!).

I planted this year's crop as cloves bought from the supermarket back in October last year. Some of them got dug up by (probably) a cat or a fox in the middle of the period of snow we had so the cloves were exposed to sub-zero temperatures for several days and yet they survived and have grown well.

Ian

[Wee man]

Re: Potato and garlic

Ian gralic like /need a cold spell to get them started remember even hot countries have short but cold spells in winter. The scapes really should be taken off as the plant will put growth to them rather than the bulbs you want. The little bulbs that do form in the scapes can be planted but will take 2 -3 years to produce sizable bulbs for eating. The scapes can be stir fried, used in salads or used to make a pesto. Scapes somthimes open like Allium flowers (same family) usually white.

[Floribunda]

Re: Potato and garlic

I always remove the scape when young as
(A) It is tender then - use like a spring onion - they get fibrous if left.
(B) It will take strength from the bulb.

[Ian]

Re: Potato and garlic

Ian gralic like /need a cold spell to get them started remember even hot countries have short but cold spells in winter. The scapes really should be taken off as the plant will put growth to them rather than the bulbs you want. The little bulbs that do form in the scapes can be planted but will take 2 -3 years to produce sizable bulbs for eating. The scapes can be stir fried, used in salads or used to make a pesto. Scapes somthimes open like Allium flowers (same family) usually white.

There are no cold days in the Philippines (Used to live there) - garlic is used all year around.

Ian

[Wee man]

Re: Potato and garlic

Growers can freeze seed prior to planting or

GA3 ( Gibberellic acid) and Garlic

It was found that in onion, both growth inhibitors and gibberellins activities decreased before sprouting, but there was an increase in gibberellins and auxins as soon as sprouting had begun (Rahman, M.H. et al. 2006). There are five major classes of plant hormones: auxins, cytokinins, gibberellins, abscisic acid, and ethylene. Gibberellins are derivatives of GA3. There are about 100 different gibberellins but GA3 is the most commonly used form. Seeds that are found difficult to germinate are often treated with GA3 solutions (Biosynth, 2006). According to an article previously published by Castañeda et al., their results concluded that the use of GA3 delayed plant maturity, producing in turn a bigger stem diameter, more leaves, and taller plants as compared with the usual farmers' practice.

OR

Results indicate that poor bulbing in late-planted crops in Bangladesh was probably due to increasing air and soil temperatures at the end of the season. Temperatures above 20°C had adverse effects on growth and development. Results also demonstrated the possibility of accelerating growth by either precooling treatments or by the use of growth regulators. Seed cloves treated either at 5 or 10°C for 15–30 days before planting showed accelerated initiation, development, and maturity of bulbs relative to those of cloves stored at 15 and 20°C. Preplanting treatment of cloves by 24-h immersion in aqueous solution of growth retardants (Cycocel and Paclobutrazol) enhanced initiation, development, and maturity of garlic bulbs, whereas, gibberellic acid delayed bulb formation and maturity, but enhanced leaf growth. The stimulatory effects of growth retardants on bulb growth and development were counteracted by subsequent application of gibberellic acid. It was concluded that growth retardants could be used as substitutes for the cold requirement of garlic.


Also I think hardneck varities are grown which do not need a very cold spell to assist growth.

GBG !


Hope this helps? I bet you are sorry you asked????



I need to get out more roll on good health!

[Ian]

Re: Potato and garlic

Apparently the cold period ensures that the bulb develops separate cloves instead of being one onion-like mass.

Ian