How to Grow Garlic Bulbs
Garlic is one of the more heralded vegetables in your garden. Plant cloves
in the fall, and you will harvest bulbs in late spring. Did you miss
the fall planting? That's okay. Plant some bulbs, as early in the spring
as the garden can be worked. Home grown, freshly harvested bulbs, are much
stronger than those found in stores. It can be cooked and eaten by itself
as a delicious food.
Garlic is simple and easy to grow. Anybody, make that everybody, can
learn how to grow garlic plants. Plant it in just about any slightly
rich soil, in a partly to mostly sunny location and it will thrive.
And, best of all, it takes little space. It can even be grown amidst your
flower garden if you are short on space.
It is most commonly used as a spice or herb. It is used in recipes around
the world. Perhaps it is best known for it's use in Italian, Chinese, and
Oriental cooking. It's roots can be traced to Central Asia.
Garlic does not stake it's claim to fame on cooking alone. It is
also widely used in organic gardening. It's strong odor is a natural repellent
to many insect pests. In addition, garlic was believed to have the power
to ward off demons and vampires.
Medicinal Value:
Since ancient times, Garlic has been hailed for it's medicinal value. It
was used to treat a wide variety of ails. Current research suggests it aids
in lowering cholesterol, reducing cardiovascular disease and even cancer
prevention. Some studies suggest garlic also helps to relieve cold and flu
symptoms.
Did you know? We all have fears. As a matter of fact, there are so
many phobias, that psychologists can hardly keep track of them all. Just
so you are well informed, Alliumphobia is the fear of garlic.
Varieties:
-
Regular Garlic: White or purple varieties, sometimes called softneck.
-
Elephant Garlic: Slightly milder in taste, but much larger than regular garlic.
One clove can be 2 1/2" - 3". Elephant garlic is not only good for spicing
up food, but can be cooked by itself. Cooked or grilled, it takes on a very
mild taste. Eat it by itself, or spread it on a piece of Italian bread.
Buy Garlic bulbs for planting
How to Grow Garlic:
The "root" forms a bulb, comprising several segments, called cloves. Separate
the cloves, and plant them in the fall for a spring crop. They will begin
to grow and take root until snow covers the ground. In the spring they will
start growing again, and will be harvestable in late spring to early summer.
If you missed planting garlic in the Fall, plant them in the spring, as soon
as the ground can be worked. You will still get a good crop, just not as
big as those planted in the fall.
Keep the patch weeded.
Garlic plants will not tell you when they are thirsty. Make sure to water
regularly, especially as dry weather arrives. Add a little general purpose
fertilizer in the fall, and a couple of times in the spring.
Insects and Pests:
The plants are resistant to most pests. It's odor wards off many insects.
On occasion, maggots can be a problem, attacking the bulbs.
Tip: Try garlic near your roses to ward off aphids and Japanese Beetles.
Disease:
Garlic plants are resistant to most forms of disease.
Harvest and Storage:
You can begin to harvest bulbs for cooking, as soon as a bulb starts to form..
Harvest the entire crop, after the tops have fallen over and dried. Clean
the bulbs off, and leave them to dry in the sun for a day or two.
Note: Some people say not to clean them off with water. There is no
harm to this, as as the plant is used to being outside in the rain. Just
don't leave them in standing in a bucket of water.
For long term storage, it is important to cure the bulbs.
How to cure garlic bulbs.
You can weave the stalks into a braid and hang them for future use. Or, you
can cut the stalk off and store them in a cool, dry place. Properly stored,
it will keep over the winter months. With a little luck, you will run out,
just as the next crop arrives.
Hardiness:
Garlic is among the hardiest of plants. It is resistant to cold. It goes
dormant over the winter like winter wheat or lawns, but does not die. Once
spring arrives, it begins to grow with the first warm days of late winter
or early spring. It is not harmed by frost, freezes or even snow.
Garlic Recipes:
May we suggest:
More Information:
All
about Vampires They hate Garlic
National Garlic Day
The Festival that
Stinks
Buy Garlic Bulbs for planting.
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