Hardneck garlic making no scapes

zipcode · May 17, 2017

So what could be the reasons?
I got it 2 years ago from someone, it's definitely hardneck. Last year it made no scapes. Now this year I'm planting a bit of those and a new one, also definitely hardneck. Again no sign of scapes on any of them, and I doubt they will.
I have only a few planted in a container on the balcony, they have a decent number of cloves, although small (last year I mean).

henry · May 17, 2017

Wonder if they are a weakly bolting type they make scapes some years and not others, the stem is softer then a true hardneck.

PhilaGardener · May 17, 2017

Perhaps the light environment is not generating the correct cues? Have other varieties scaped for you in pots in this location?

Worth1 · May 17, 2017

No way in your area is it time for garlic to make scapes.
Worth

dustdevil · May 17, 2017

Garlic likes loose soil...maybe your soil is compacted?

zipcode · May 17, 2017

Well, the balcony, in the city, is much warmer than if it would be in a field.
Location is kinda west, so not full sun, but everything else is growing really well, including tomatoes and shallots.
Last year they didn't make any, and now it's quite tall, and rather thin, this is why I don't think it will make any again.
Soil is peat mix, quite nice, it's not compacted.
Maybe it's inadequate spacing (I read that they inhibit each other through roots if too close)?.

Worth1 · May 17, 2017

Maybe not enough nitrogen.
Worth

gdaddybill · May 17, 2017

Are there lights that would interrupt the night period? Onions are daylength sensitive I suspect garlic is too. Actually it is the uninterrupted night period that counts so a streetlight or porch light might have an affect.

Worth1 · May 17, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdaddybill

Are there lights that would interrupt the night period? Onions are daylength sensitive I suspect garlic is too.

I think you nailed it.
Worth

zipcode · May 18, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by gdaddybill

Are there lights that would interrupt the night period? Onions are daylength sensitive I suspect garlic is too.

Well, there is a higher amount of light on the street at night than on a filed, not sure how much that should affect them, could be a problem though.
By odd coincidence today I noticed that some scapes are forming

Only on the new variety though, I think the one from last year which didn't have any still won't have it.

May 17, 2017

I'm not sure that our garlic always got scapes, but we do have a more compact soil. After we got some bark mulch down, though, they sure produced them (and they were delicious). They may have had too much drought, before, though.

TessSR · May 17, 2017

All my garlic are in container and now scapes are coming out. It might the same as succulents that it has to go through distress to produce scapes. We had so much rain at the beginning of the year, then a sudden high heat, then cold again.

PhilaGardener · May 17, 2017

I just noticed scapes forming on my elephant garlic, but my regular garlic hasn't started yet. It is hard to know what effect our roller coaster weather is having this year.

RayR · May 18, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhilaGardener

I just noticed scapes forming on my elephant garlic, but my regular garlic hasn't started yet. It is hard to know what effect our roller coaster weather is having this year.

Elephant garlic isn't actually in the garlic family, it's related to leeks.

Worth1 · May 18, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by RayR

Elephant garlic isn't actually in the garlic family, it's related to leeks.

Right,t but I have never been able to wrap my mind around it.

May 17, 2017	#1
zipcode Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Romania/Germany , z 4-6 Posts: 1,582	Hardneck garlic making no scapes So what could be the reasons? I got it 2 years ago from someone, it's definitely hardneck. Last year it made no scapes. Now this year I'm planting a bit of those and a new one, also definitely hardneck. Again no sign of scapes on any of them, and I doubt they will. I have only a few planted in a container on the balcony, they have a decent number of cloves, although small (last year I mean).

May 17, 2017	#2
henry Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Midway B.C. Canada Posts: 311	Wonder if they are a weakly bolting type they make scapes some years and not others, the stem is softer then a true hardneck. __________________ Henry

May 17, 2017	#8
gdaddybill Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Burton, TX Posts: 294	Are there lights that would interrupt the night period? Onions are daylength sensitive I suspect garlic is too. Actually it is the uninterrupted night period that counts so a streetlight or porch light might have an affect. Last edited by gdaddybill; May 18, 2017 at 08:06 AM. Reason: More info

May 17, 2017	#11
shule1 Guest Posts: n/a	I'm not sure that our garlic always got scapes, but we do have a more compact soil. After we got some bark mulch down, though, they sure produced them (and they were delicious). They may have had too much drought, before, though. Last edited by shule1; May 17, 2017 at 07:20 PM.

May 17, 2017	#3
PhilaGardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Near Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,940	Perhaps the light environment is not generating the correct cues? Have other varieties scaped for you in pots in this location?

May 17, 2017	#4
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	No way in your area is it time for garlic to make scapes. Worth

May 17, 2017	#5
dustdevil Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: WI, USA Zone4 Posts: 1,887	Garlic likes loose soil...maybe your soil is compacted?

May 17, 2017	#12
TessSR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: California 90249 Posts: 80	All my garlic are in container and now scapes are coming out. It might the same as succulents that it has to go through distress to produce scapes. We had so much rain at the beginning of the year, then a sudden high heat, then cold again.