General |
Garlic is good for what ails you! Did you know that the longer garlic is cooked, the milder the flavour? So for the strongest garlic flavour, add it toward the end of cooking. A solution to garlic breath is to offer cardamon seeds to chew at the end of a meal, or: parsley, basil, mint, lemon or thyme, all of which reduce the aroma of garlic on the breath.
Please see Mary's blog post about Garlic for further information. Printable (PDF) version of blog post here.
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Latin |
Allium spp.
Alliaceae family.
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Difficulty |
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Easy.
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Season & Zone |
Season: Cool season.
Exposure: Full-sun.
Zone: All.
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Plant Type |
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Annual (A)
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Planting Seeds |
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Separate the cloves and set each one, pointed end up, 10-15cm (4-6") apart and with the tip of the clove 2-5cm (1-2") deep in rich, well drained soil. Don't skin the clove! Use deeper planting if rains or frost may expose the cloves, and shallower planting if using mulch or planting into heavy soil. Largest cloves will make largest bulbs.
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Preparing Soil |
Rich, well-drained soil. Dig well, add compost (lots of it if your soil is heavy) and do not compact it by stepping on it. Fertilize when spring growth starts. Water as needed and keep weeded.
If your soil pH is below 5.5, the addition of wood ash or dolomite lime might help.
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Planting |
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Plant garlic in October. Cut flower stalks to keep energy in the bulb. If individual cloves haven't formed, either eat the clove or replant and it will bulb next year.
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Diseases & Pests |
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Many growers and home gardeners have been hit with White Rot that causes black spots and decay on the bulbs. It is spread in infected soil and water and is very persistent in the soil. Flooding the bed for 4 weeks in the spring may kill it. Best way to avoid it is not to leave decaying alliums in the ground and by using a strict 4 year rotation.
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Harvest |
Garlic matures between the end of July to early August. When the tops begin to dry, pull and air-dry like onions. Harvest when 1/2-3/4 of the leaves have turned yellow (depending on variety). Try to avoid puncturing the bulbs when digging them out. Cure the bulbs in a single layer in a warm spot for 1 week to 10 days. Clean the bulbs by peeling off outer muddy layers. Cut off the stems and leaves of the hardneck varieties, but leave the leaves on the softneck to use for braiding or hanging. Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. Do not store garlic in the refrigerator, as this will induce sprouting, changing the garlic's texture and flavour. Use any damaged bulbs first, store the best. Set aside your best bulbs for planting in the fall.
To maximize bulb size, cut off the scapes (the curling tip) just as they begin to curl. These are wonderful in stir fries.
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Companion Plants |
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Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage family, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celery, Chamomile, Collard, Cucumber, Dill, Kale, Lettuce, Pepper, Potato, Radish, Rose, Savory, Squash, Strawberry, Tomato.
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