Comments on: Witches Broom Garlic: What’s Wrong with My Garlic?

By: Jeanette

Jeanette — Mon, 12 May 2025 19:46:13 +0000

Hello from Southern California, inland valley. I had this happen to my garlic in 2024 and again this year 2025. The first year, my witch broom garlic looked just like your pictures and it was obvious. It was either my Nootka rose or inchelium red that did it, my biggest bulbs! I didn’t really know what I was looking at so I didn’t record which one it was. This year, it was a bit more incognito that it had happened. I used completely new garlic this last season and I was noticing that my soft neck garlic had really thick stems that were not bending at all as they were curing. I peeled them back and found that there were little stems every three leaves or so, so it didn’t broom all in the middle but every so often there were new layers. It was inchelium red again. We had a pretty warm start of spring followed by colder weather. The mystery continues!

By: Angela Judd

Angela Judd — Wed, 22 May 2024 22:00:10 +0000

In reply to Guy. Interesting. Thanks for sharing!

By: Guy

Guy — Tue, 21 May 2024 06:34:11 +0000

This has happened to me in UK this year I think, planted in january, in the bed that had tomatos last year, we have had a lot of rain and fluctuating temperatures, but, its only 2 plants, in the middle of around 20, won’t know for certain until I lift them, and I’m loathe to do that too early

By: Angela Judd

Angela Judd — Sat, 18 May 2024 22:58:14 +0000

In reply to Elizabeth McKay. That's up to you. I'm going to try planting some as an experiment to see if they are more likely to broom. Let me know how it goes if you plant yours.

By: Angela Judd

Angela Judd — Sat, 18 May 2024 22:57:36 +0000

In reply to Dawn Kinney. Could need more time. Possibly more soil or sunlight too. That's frustrating, I'm sorry.

By: Dawn Kinney

Dawn Kinney — Fri, 17 May 2024 23:11:19 +0000

Mine didn’t “witch broom” but instead of getting a head of garlic, I simply got what seems like a large clove of garlic. It was paper encased, but very small. I followed all your instructions, planted Mexican Pearl. I live in midtown Phoenix. Planted in raised beds with lettuce and in ground bed by flowers. I planted over 20 garlic and was only able to locate a few. Maybe I should have fertilized more? SO disappointed! Any ideas?

By: Elizabeth McKay

Elizabeth McKay — Thu, 16 May 2024 22:04:20 +0000

This was only my second year of growing garlic. Most of my garlic ended up having the witches brooming result. I thought that I may have harvested it too soon. Only 10% looks normal. I’m happy to hear that the taste will not be effected. Should of any of the witches broom bulbs be used as seed next year?

By: Old School

Old School — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:08:19 +0000

In reply to Amber.

@Amber, after re-reading your comment I think you mean ‘what is a corm/bulbil video? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYJLQFyG5iQ&t=1s

By: Old School

Old School — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:05:15 +0000

In reply to Amber.

@Amber, hi Amber, i’m the lady that did the video. I’m a long long time garlic grower and still trying to figure all this out. Which part did you want follow up on? I’m now certain it’s not a fungus nor virus, simply because it would effect more than just a few of my cloves considering they are the same garlic i’ve been planting for years and harvesting for years I would expect it to seriously spread. It is a head scratcher. As for your garlic…did you buy it from a nursery? or grocery store? or was it a corm or bulbil? if you can give me a bit more info I can try to assist. It’s a head scratcher for sure. Feel free to email me directly too.
Martha aka OldSchoolPreparer@Gmail.com

By: Angela Judd

Angela Judd — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:03:31 +0000

In reply to Old School. Hi Martha. Good points. Please let me know if you do more videos, interesting topic. It's fun to learn more!

By: Angela Judd

Angela Judd — Wed, 15 May 2024 19:02:41 +0000

In reply to Pam. Thanks for sharing.

By: Old School

Old School — Wed, 15 May 2024 18:57:56 +0000

Hi Angela, my name is Martha and I’m @OldSchoolPrepper (you showcased my video) I apprecaite that! I agree with most of your points. I planted again and now have Witches Broom on only a very few garlic heads most of which were rounds I planted for 2nd year growth. My garlic beds are pH neutral, I don’t fertilize all winter long (I live out of the country from Dec-April so i’m not here to fertilize). I would think if it effects one garlic is should effect a whole lot of them. Have you ever planted a biannual and found that it set seed the first year? like carrot or cabbage? while rare it’s happened to me…I think this scenario is some how related but it’s just a guess. I’m going to do another video on this topic very soon. My local extention service (U of Oregon) still doesn’t understand what’s going on…up to us!
Thanks again,
Martha

By: Pam

Pam — Wed, 15 May 2024 01:30:43 +0000

I live in Tucson and about 75% of my garlic “witch broomed” I have them in raised beds. We did have colder /longer and rainy conditions this winter. Thanks so much for all your info.

By: Angela Judd

Angela Judd — Tue, 14 May 2024 17:32:07 +0000

In reply to Gillian. Thanks for sharing.

By: Gillian

Gillian — Tue, 14 May 2024 13:49:38 +0000

Red Inchillium has witches broomed last season and this season. Not a good choice for zone 8a Atlanta. Thai Fire had a handful of cloves growing on the outside of the enclosed bulb.