 |
| Garlic |
Last autumn I tried garlic for the first time for over a decade. My previous attempt produced such pathetic results. What little that grew was small and subject to white rot. So this time I put in a generous handful of sand into each planting hole. There were three varieties in one Jamie Oliver pack from Homebase.One bulb white one bulb purple, and one clove (only) Elephant garlic. The purple bulb had more cloves than the white. That's why the rows are different lengths - and one is out on it's own.
 |
| Elephant garlic to the fore |
 |
| Looks like the purple row |
Now due to my lack of experience I not sure when I should start digging it up. The books all say "when the leaves turn yellow". How yellow? Any garlic growers out there?
You've a little while to wait yet Mal. I dig ours up when the foliage starts to die off. I mean properly dies. I'll be letting you know when that happens on my blog. I think thet last time I grew garlic I harvested the first lot in June.
ReplyDeleteAlternatively you can always scratch about and have a peek at how large the bulbs are.
Thanks Sue. The harvest months are May June and July in some books. Given the weather we've had and our northern latitude I guessed I would be jumping the gun. As you can tell I'm getting ahead of myself with anticipation.
ReplyDeletehmm... so thats why the garlics are starting to go yellow. Was wondering why they have been "upset" LOL
ReplyDeleteI'm growing garlic, for the first time. I didn't even know the leaves were going to turn yellow. They're very green at the moment.
ReplyDeleteThat's not much help, really, is it?
I had a great garlic harvest last year. I tend to wait until the tops have totally withered...kind of like with your onions. Curious to know how you get on with the elephant garlic.
ReplyDeleteI'm trying garlic for the first time this year but put them in this spring - thanks for the sand tip - I'll remember that next time
ReplyDeleteNice looking Garlic plants. I grow a few but not my favourite plant for culinary use. Great for using in insect sprays.
ReplyDeleteGreat looking garlic. How to harvest garlic its not that hard. The garlic leaves will start dying back from the bottom up when the third to forth leaves die pull one and check to make sure its a fully formed garlic bulb that is when I pull mine. If you just wait more leaves will turn yellow and the garlic will just fall over like an onion. I have found that not to be the best method it does not store as well. If your growing hard necks or elephant garlic it is usually about 2 weeks after it tries to flower (garlic scapes) I cut the scapes and eat them yum.... then two weeks later I pull one and look at it. there are lots of garlic types and they all mature at different times so one might be ready and the others will not. Hope that helps
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your wonderfully encouraging comments. We cook with garlic regularly but, Rooko, you have reminded me of a TV feature about a garden full of Hostas where they used a garlic solution as the sole insecticide. So if this year's experiment works out, and I decide to give up on commercial slug pellets, it looks like we're going to need to grow a whole lot more in future!
ReplyDelete