You likely mean garlic bulbils—the tiny aerial “seeds” that hardneck garlic produces on its flower stalk (scape). They are not true seeds; each bulbil is a clone of the parent garlic. Planting them takes two years to yield a full, multi-clove bulb.[1][2]
Harvest the bulbils
- Leave a few scapes uncut in late spring instead of removing them for eating.
- Let the umbel—the round pod at the top—mature until it begins to dry and crack, usually mid- to late summer.
- Cut the whole scape, hang it somewhere dry and airy for about 1–4 weeks, then rub or break open the pod to release the bulbils.[3][4]
- Keep only the largest, firmest bulbils; discard damaged or very tiny ones.[5]
Plant them
For Calgary, plant in late September to early October, about 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes, or in early spring once soil can be worked.
- Prepare a loose, weed-free bed with compost and good drainage.
- Plant bulbils pointed end up, about 1.3–2 cm (0.5–0.75 in) deep.
- Space larger bulbils about 5 cm (2 in) apart; smaller ones can be closer, around 2–3 cm apart.
- Leave 15–20 cm (6–8 in) between rows.
- Cover with soil, water gently if dry, and mulch after planting—especially for fall planting.[4][1]
What happens each year
|
Year |
Result |
|
Year 1 |
Each bulbil grows into a small, round, single-clove bulb called a “round.” [1][6] |
|
Harvest Year 1 |
Lift the rounds when tops yellow, cure them, and store them like garlic. [1][6] |
|
Year 2 |
Replant the rounds like normal cloves in fall. They should form a full multi-clove garlic head. [1][2] |
Practical tip
Bulbils are slower than planting cloves, but they are useful for increasing planting stock and often help reset disease pressure, because they grow above ground rather than in the soil. For a normal eating crop, plant large individual cloves instead; for building up a variety, use bulbils.[1][4]
⁂
How to plant normal garlic cloves instead
Plant individual cloves from a healthy garlic bulb, pointed end up. In Calgary, plant in late September through early October, about 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes, so roots establish before winter.[19][20]
Choose and split the bulb
- Use a large, firm, disease-free bulb—ideally seed garlic from a local grower, not treated grocery garlic.
- Keep the papery wrapper on each clove; do not peel it.
- Separate the bulb into cloves shortly before planting.
- Save the largest outer cloves for planting; small cloves generally make smaller bulbs.[21][19]
Planting steps
- Choose a sunny spot with loose, fertile, well-drained soil; mix in compost if needed.[22][19]
- Make holes about 5–8 cm (2–3 in) deep.
- Place each clove pointed tip up and flat basal plate down.[23][19]
- Space cloves 10–15 cm (4–6 in) apart within the row.
- Space rows 15–30 cm (6–12 in) apart.[24][22]
- Cover with soil, firm it lightly, and water once if the soil is dry.
- Apply 5–10 cm (2–4 in) of straw or leaf mulch after the ground begins to freeze; this protects cloves from freeze-thaw heaving.[19]
Care through the season
- In spring, pull mulch back slightly once shoots emerge, but keep it nearby for weed suppression and moisture control.
- Water during dry spells, roughly 2.5 cm (1 in) per week, then reduce watering as bulbs mature.
- Remove weeds early; garlic dislikes competition.
- If growing hardneck garlic, snap off the curly scapes in early summer when they form a loop—this often directs more energy into bulb growth.[25][22]
Harvest and cure
Harvest the following summer, usually late July to August in Calgary, when roughly the lower third to half of the leaves have yellowed or browned but several upper leaves remain green. Loosen bulbs with a fork rather than pulling hard, and avoid bruising them.[26][24]
Cure the whole plants for 3–4 weeks in a warm, dry, shaded, well-ventilated place. Once wrappers and necks are dry, trim stems to about 2.5 cm (1 in) and roots close to the bulb, then store in a cool, dark, dry location.[27][24]
⁂
- https://cfaes.osu.edu/fact-sheet/growing-garlic-garden
- https://ucanr.edu/blog/savvy-sage/article/allium-enigma-case-curious-bulbils
- https://tazart.app/blog/how-to-propagate-garlic/
- https://gardenerspath.com/plants/herbs/propagate-garlic-bulbils/
- https://universityagro.ru/en/garden-lab/growing-garlic-from-bulbs
- https://practicalselfreliance.com/growing-garlic-from-seed/
- https://permies.com/t/48371/alliums/True-Garlic-Seed-grow-stuff
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2yQ1WvfKA0
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8I6_TY8M9fU
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNsy14zRnkc
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mc2Za_qHg7s
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0axhq-VD6E
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2kyKukMlRI
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0VXF410j7Q
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgbWxSqpqws
- https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/how-to/growing-garlic-home-garden
- https://fieldreport.caes.uga.edu/publications/C854/garlic-production-for-the-gardener/
- https://www.garden.eco/how-to-regrow-garlic
- https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/growing_garlic_infosheet.pdf
- https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/producing_garlic_in_michigan
- https://cfaes.osu.edu/fact-sheet/growing-garlic-garden
- https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/garlic-in-the-garden
- https://pubs.extension.wsu.edu/product/vegetables-growing-garlic-in-home-gardens/
- https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/2063e/
- https://www.almanac.com/plant/garlic
- https://extension.illinois.edu/herbs/garlic
- https://extension.wvu.edu/lawn-gardening-pests/gardening/wv-garden-guide/growing-garlic-in-west-virginia
- https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2026-02/Garlic.pdf
- https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/garlic/grow-your-own
- https://yardandgarden.extension.iastate.edu/faq/when-and-where-should-i-plant-garlic
- https://www.uaex.uada.edu/publications/pdf/FSA-6085.pdf
- https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2019-09-17-how-grow-garlic
- https://extension.umaine.edu/publications/wp-content/uploads/sites/52/2022/11/2063-Growing-Garlic-in-Maine.pdf
- https://extension.oregonstate.edu/imported-publication/garlic-fall
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUeDFFJy_-k
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5muEin37aR4
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB8uclGf4ac
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpOmXKE7FM4
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlXJA7w4JNw
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETAWYeeJdnM
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JxMeOW9MfM
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njk0sVm_Um8
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