Hey everyone! I've got a bunch of really small garlic bulbs — about the size of a large blueberry to a grape — due to poor soil conditions and not enough sunlight, plus drought issues. I hate to toss them in the compost because that feels so wasteful. They're too tiny to use in cooking without getting frustrated. I've heard people mention using these undersized bulbs to grow scapes and leaves, but I haven't found much detailed info on that. I'm in zone 6a and aiming to plant my new seed garlic in about 6-8 weeks, as the first frost is expected around early to mid-October. Should I remove any of the paper from these tiny bulbs before planting, or can I plant the whole bulb with the stem trimmed down? I'm guessing it's too late in the season to get greens from them now. The variety used to be pretty hearty and tasty but faced some unfortunate circumstances. I'm open to any ideas or directions on how I can use these 30 tiny bulbs. Thanks for any tips you have!
2 Answers
I agree with TinyGarlicGuru! I’ve read that even small bulbs can produce decent garlic if you give them the right conditions. Just make sure to plant them pointy side up like you said, and don’t be too hard on them if they are small this time. They might surprise you in a couple of years! And haha, you’re spot on about managing your own garlic; no one else will nurture those bulbs like you do!
I had a similar situation where I found small garlic bulbs growing in my yard. I split the tiny cloves and planted them, and after two years, I ended up with some great garlic! So definitely give it a shot! You could also try planting the whole bulbs, but splitting might give you better results over time. Just keep in mind that while small cloves can lead to small bulbs, if cared for properly, they can have the potential to grow into something bigger down the line.