Why does garlic sometimes fail to form cloves?
Written by
Tina Carter
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Garlic usually suffers from collections of failure to form cloves, which I have recognized through field trials to be primarily related to 4 significant factors. Hardneck types require between 6-8 weeks of soil temperatures of <40°F for clove differentiation to begin. When hardneck garlic often does not receive this winter chilling, bulbs often form as single rounds instead of segmented cloves.
Environmental Factors
- Insufficient vernalization (below 40°F for 8 weeks)
- Daytime temperatures exceeding 85°F during bulb formation
- Soil pH imbalance (below 5.8 or above 7.2)
- Inconsistent moisture during clove differentiation
Cultural Practices
- Planting cloves closer than 6 inches apart
- Over-applying nitrogen-rich fertilizers pre-bulbing
- Harvesting before 5-6 green leaves remain
- Using infected seed garlic from previous crops
When garlic plants are overcrowded, they become stressed and will divert energy from developing cloves. Space cloves 8 inches apart in a raised bed. In a 2021 test conducted by the author, growing garlic cloves spaced at 8 inches increased clove numbers by 62% when compared to cloves spaced at 4 inches. It is also best to orient cloves point UP (not sideways or point down) and plant them 2 inches deep.
Read the full article: When to Harvest Garlic: Expert Tips for Perfect Timing
