Seconds out! Round two.

Being, naturally, impatient; I checked the Garlic.  Yet again an older bulb had merely dehydrated, the other(s) had already achieved a darkness and an almost right right flavour and texture - SO - this is the next lot; getting the full three weeks before even a check.  The cloves are so huge I'm starting to wonder if I've accidentally planted all Elephant garlic, but the different hues suggest not. - Moral - TAKE NOTES.
Further searching revealed two things:-
1. "Elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum) is a perennial plant belonging to the onion genus. It has a tall, solid, flowering stalk and broad, flat leaves. The flavour is milder than garlic, and much more palatable to some people than garlic when used raw as in salads. It is sometimes confused with solo garlic."

2. "Small bulbs of solo garlic can be obtained by planting the bulbils of any variety of garlic.  However, commercial production comes from areas where garlic is likely to produce a solo bulb due to environmental factors."
NOT for me they can't - ALL turn into standard multi-cloved bulbs.  I have planted things bought as Solo and they turned into one huge bulb with no division into cloves; which, kinda, begs the question - if you're only getting a one for one return how does it propagate, except maybe by seeds?
Anyway - I decided to bung in a brace of Solos to see what comes out the other end.

Ever the adventurer - I have a few ancient Shallots about ready for the compost heap - BUT - with a couple of firm ones.
Question - Since Garlic, Onions and shallots are all "Allium summat-or-other" I'll see if "Black Shallots" might be on the menu.