Some garlic not making scapes

[garden patch]

I have at least 3 garlic plants in my yard that haven’t produced scapes. Instead at the top of the plants they have divided in to with more leaves growing….what is the cause of this and should I do anything to the plants?

[Whwoz]

Sounds to me like the plants are side shooting, probably best to lift and use as green garlic. What you will find will be either of two things,

One if only a single leaf has emerged from clove it may be larger than normal but would have broken out of the wrappers and less likely to store well or

Two, multiple leaves from each clove, then that clove will divide producing a mess of small cloves that are that fiddly to deal with that they are virtually useless.

I have had both situations occur and you cannot tell until you lift them.

[garden patch]

I will post some pictures soon.

[TomNJ]

Sounds like "witch-brooming", which happens to a percentage of my garlic every year.

I once observed an association with excessive nitrogen feeding but not enough to call it a scientific conclusion. It also occurs more often with some varieties than others. Sometimes the bulbs are normal, and sometimes I get rounds.

[garden patch]

I’m not to sure about the fertilizer. I do use Jobes all purpose in spring time 4-4-4. One application. Here are some of the pics…The bulb looks big. Strange.

[JRinPA]

I can't recall seeing that ever. I may have, but it doesn't stand out in my mind. I don't fertilize garlic with anything except compost and I'm lucky in that my garlic has been here since the 60s so it is pretty well adapted.

[Whwoz]

Yes, that is what happened to me this year. The plants eventually put up scapes from each clove, up to seven scapes per plant, but all were very small. Cloves may or may not be divided within the wrappers.