Garlic is normally mature from Eugenia caryophyllatum , but it is possible to raise garlic from seed . While it ’s not precisely easy , the medium nurseryman can do it . One advantage of growing from seed is that it increase inherited diversity – cloves are essentially clones of the original plant . Be prepared to spend extra fourth dimension and give the new plants plentifulness of tending .
Why Grow From Seed?
Garlic is typically produce from cloves . Problems integral with this method are a build up of viruses in the plants and the risk of soil - borne diseases . It also intend decreased genetic multifariousness because the cloves are clon . Using seed to produce new garlic plants can not only solve these trouble but also increase zip and yield from your home - arise garlic .
Of Flowers and Bulbils
Garlic is a fellow member of the allium family , which also include leeks , onion and Allium ascalonicum . Leeks and onion are more often than not propagated by cum . Garlic in the wild and under cultivation reproduces principally from cloves or tiny bulb on the flower stalks call in topsets , or bulbils . so as to raise cum , you must remove the bulbils .
Choosing Garlic for Seed
There is only one eccentric of ail that will produce seed – those in thehardneckgroup . Softnecks do n’t send up a flower stalk . Purple Stripe and Marbled Purple Stripe varieties are the best choice . These are known to produce seed :
Growing for Seed
While scapes ( bloom straw ) of garlic are usually removed to promote Eugenia aromaticum development , you should allow them in place . Continue to irrigate the plants and provide fertilizer – this enhance top growth rather than clove development . This forces the plant into semen andbulbilproduction . You must remove the bulblet with tweezers , as they compete with the come . After several generation of grow from seeds , bulbil are less numerous .
Harvesting Seeds
As the seeds develop , the flowers will shrink and begin to dry out . Once the seeds become seeable , they are ready to glean . you could bear a container under the flush head and gently shake to dislodge ripe seminal fluid . Another pick is to cut back off the heyday head and admit it over a firearm of paper . Roll it between your fingers until the seeds fall onto the paper .
Growing the Seeds
Garlic come needs a full point of dormancy and exposure to cold . you may chill the seeds in the refrigerator for at least six calendar week . Planting ejaculate in late wintertime offers best outcome . Plant the seeds in pots or the ground ; cover with ¼ inch of soil . Water to keep ground scantily moist , not squiffy . Viable seed will commonly pullulate within two workweek .
