We grow garlic in the garden

Garlic (Allium Sativum) - Symbol for the excellence of Provencal and Mediterranean cuisine. Garlic is a bulbous vegetable that is very easy to grow in the garden after a long growing season. The bulbs of this vegetable are very frost-hardy.

Aside from its intense aroma and culinary uses, it is a great food to keep in the garden as it is an insect repellent and has been used as a home remedy for centuries.

There are several varieties of garlic for planting in the garden, which are always planted in the ground, in spring or autumn, before the first snow. Regardless of the variety chosen, the method of growing garlic in the garden is the same.
Garlic thrives in light, humus-rich and very well-drained soil.

Garlic in the garden can be planted in the spring, as soon as the soil can be cultivated, but it is recommended to fertilize the soil in the fall, then the bulbs will be larger and tastier when harvested in summer. In regions where frosts are very strong, garlic should be planted 6-8 weeks before fall.

The planting time of garlic in the garden can vary depending on the local climate, but in any case, the goal is to give the plant a long enough period before the soil freezes so that it has good roots, but there is not enough time for it to form until the low temperatures stabilize ...

In areas with mild climates, February and March are the best months for planting garlic in the garden. Make sure the soil is well-drained with plenty of organic matter.

Choose a sunny spot for planting garlic in your garden bed. Before planting, treat the land in the garden well, clearing it of weeds and loosening it well. Do not add fresh manure, or the new heads of garlic will rot before they reach maturity. However, well-decomposed compost is acceptable.

Each pod contained in a head of garlic is a seed: it is called a cauliflower. However, do not use supermarket-bought garlic, as it may be irradiated or infected with viruses. Buy it from an organic producer or garden center.

Then plant the seeds (cloves of garlic), tip up, 5 cm deep, at 15 cm intervals, and dig the furrows 60 cm apart. Each seed produces a head of garlic.

notethat it is not necessary to water the garlic in the garden, as it is afraid of moisture and stagnant water. Standing water around garlic plants should be avoided at all costs. Therefore, it is especially important to be vigilant in the spring when the snow melts: small trenches may need to be dug to allow excess water to flow. Don't grow your garlic in the same place every year.

If you want to grow heads of garlic, you won't be able to do this in a pot.
When the flower stalks of the garlic are curled, the flowers must be picked (they are edible). This step will allow the garlic to grow even more.

To grow garlic in a garden bed, it is necessary to mulch the soil with straw, which must be removed in the spring after the threat of frost has disappeared.

Garlic has very few pest problems as it is a natural repellent, so even diseases are very rare. The only danger is Phanerochaete chrysosporium, a fungus that causes the plant to degenerate and can attack garlic in winter.

There is little that can be done to prevent this problem other than crop rotation and post-harvest harvesting. Spores can live in the soil for many years, and the fungus attacks the base of the leaves and roots.

But most crop problems arise from too much moisture and stagnant water.

Autumn garlic is harvested 8-10 months after planting, that is, at the beginning of the next summer. Spring garlic is harvested in the fall. The main indicator is foliage: it dries up and turns yellow. When this process begins, the soil around the head of garlic is cleared to dry out better.

After the garlic is harvested, it should be left on the ground with stems and roots for 2-3 days to allow it to dry well. In case of rain, garlic must be removed immediately. It can then be cleaned and stored for several months in a dry and ventilated place.

Garlic can be stored individually or can be braided and hung in the kitchen or pantry. Do not store in the cellar if it is damp. The aroma will increase as the bulbs dry.

If you plan on replanting garlic in your garden next season, leave some larger, better-formed bulbs for planting in the fall.

There are three types of garden garlic: pink, red and Vessalico. Most species take about three months to harvest after starting to grow.

• Pink garlic has necks that remain soft after harvest. It is recommended for those living in warmer climates as it has a strong and intense flavor, but is less winter-resistant than other species.
• Red garlic is extremely cold resistant, but it does not last as well or as long as other varieties. The taste is more delicate.
• Vessalico garlic is the least resistant and more closely related to leeks than other varieties. Its taste is more like onion.