The shoots are called "scapes". The swelling on the top is technically called a spathe, and is where bulbils will form. Bulbils look like miniature garlic bulbs. You don't plant the spathe, but wait for the bulbils to mature then plant them individually.

If you do the first year they will become "rounds" and the second year they should form bulbs. To me, easier and quicker to plant cloves.

These might also be bulbils forming inside the stem itself. A couple of my Japanese did that this year and you see that from time to time in the grocery store bulk bins. That can happen anywhere along the stem from just above the bulb itself to quite high up on the stalk. Those bulbils will also grow if planted back.

Andy, check the photos at the link below and see if that's what is happening with yours.

Rodney

Here is a link that might be useful: soft neck forming bublets mid stem?

That link shows exactly what i was thinking of. I don't think this is anything to worry about in most cases.

That very thing happened to one of the more robust of my Japanese this year; it didn't harm the bulb size in the least. My guess is that the scape that had started to develop partially aborted resulting in the bulbil set being lower inside the stem. No scape developed to be cut off either.

Of course Japanese has a bit of a weird scape anyway and is only weakly a hardneck. Not all of my Japanese even put out scapes this year, but bulb size still averaged closer to 2 1/2" than to 2".

First time I ever grew Japanese, and I am impressed.

Thank you everyone, that link looks like what's happening.I amy cut them off and see if they grow on their own.

thanx agian,
Andy