Last fall I planted a mix of garlic cloves from my CSA and transplanted many 1 year old top sets. The shoots are now sticking out of the salt hay, nice and green. Lots of them. I've never been able to grow good sized garlic heads and hope these will do well in this new sunny spot this summer.
garlic (Allium sativum)
i like pie
ReplyDeleteso what if you like pie???
ReplyDeletelol rofl
ReplyDeleteSo I had to look up all these phrases. I take it anonymous doesn't grow garlic. You should give it a try!
ReplyDeleteKathy, have you heard about Bear's garlic (Allium ursinum)? You use the leaves (not the bulbs) and it tastes like a combination of garlic and chives (it is also more medicinally potent than garlic). It's on my "to grow" list.
ReplyDeleteMmmm, I agree with the garlic growing hint to Pie eating anonymous Kathy, even Prospero's leaf eating tip may help them out. Aren't these warmer and longer days cheering for us growers. On a Presidential note, can't wait to see the BBC 10p.m. news here, hopefully they will have footage of Mr Obama and Her Majesty and Michelle in a superb frock!! Take care.
ReplyDeleteMarian
I have received some asparagus roots. Now what do I do with them ? I have been told to let them grow for 3 years before cutting them.Should they go in an out of the way place or just somewhere I can keep an eye on them ?
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteI check your blog weekly and sometimes more. It's so earthy. I love it! I am envious of your spring weather. We have a lot of snow still but the skiing is good and it is really beautiful andd warm; just not green yet! Enjoy the smell of the earth and all things green, pink, blue, etc... Johanna
It is our first year at growing garlic too, am so excited (sad person, gets excited over vegetables).
ReplyDeleteI just discovered your blog! I am a new gardener in Toronto, Ontario and am looking for all the gardening tips I can find. I will be following your blog in the future! Thanks for the great info!
ReplyDeleteMoira
Wow! Yours are way ahead of mine!!
ReplyDeleteHi Kathy,
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to drop you a note that I found your blog. I am currently a patio gardener, but looking at moving into a house with a big yard, and I love the way your garden looks!
Hi.
ReplyDeleteI love growing garlic. There's something good about putting it in the ground on the shortest day of the year, and leaving there all winter. Like garlic, I like winter.... Mine is coming up here in Iowa, too.
For a list of garlic books, check out
http://www.filareefarm.com/book.html
"Growing Great Garlic" (by Ron L. Engeland, who owns the farm / website) has a wealth of info, and although it is directed toward small commercial growers much applies to the home gardener. Especially interesting is the discussion of different types of garlic. The site above also sells more kinds of garlic than I've seen anywhere else. Wish I had got some from there to try this year!
-hoobie
Yay! Great looking shoots - I am planning on adding garlic to my garden, I am just wondering if I should plant it with the herbs or veggies - or buy itself, since I am doing partial container gardening.
ReplyDeleteI will watch for Bear's garlic as I have never heard of this and it does sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteI tried to catch Michele's dress on TV but it seems I missed out. Maybe I'll look online. I bet someone has a whole collection of photos of her outfits somewhere. I hear they all sell out immediately. I haven't gotten around to buying that great gardening outfit yet. Soon....
Hi Johanna, I think there's only one pile of snow left around here and its up at my parents house. Its mostly dirt now. I hope spring finds you soon!
About that asparagus - mine will be delivered soon too and I don't know what to do with it yet. I will need to Google "planting asparagus" and figure it out. I do have a spot picked out for it. I'll plant enough to fill up a 3 ft by 4 ft plot. Lots of plots at out community garden have a patch like this. It will go at the edge where it won't shade other plants. It gets tall (about 5 ft). And I seem to remember hearing you can pick two or three spears the second spring, but no more, and then a full harvest the third spring. I'll certainly post more on this topic when I plant mine.
And I still think that garlic is about the most versatile herb/veggie there is. A very exciting plant! Fresh homegrown heirloom garlic is soooo good! And pound for pound I bet its about the most expensive vegetable. I'm really excited to think I might get enough heads to last into the winter this year. That would be super!
Melanie, I think garlic could go anywhere. Around the edge of a container of vegetables, mixed in with herbs, or on its own. The traditional wisdom says don't plant it with beans or peas though. If you turn you soil, its may be best to plant it on its own since its schedule is so different than other crops. I'm thinking of letting my garlic and asparagus share a bed.
ReplyDeletePS. Roses love garlic! ANother thought is to plant it in a container with roses. Garlic is said to repel rose pests.
ReplyDelete