What will happen if I planted my garlic clove whole?

Question

I didn’t know I had to separate the clove and I planted it as it was, as a whole clove. Will I get anything that is usable for cooking? Or should I take the plant out of the ground in August and then try again with it separated?

Answer 1

It should still produce for you. Planting the whole bulb just doesn't produce as much of a crop. For example, say if there are 10 cloves in a bulb, you will get 10 little garlic plants. By planting the entire clove, it will grow one plant with many offsets; however, these can be easily divided and replanted elsewhere.