No Worries

Garlic (c) 2013 HVI

I planted my garlic on Columbus Day; just as I always do. When planted on this date, it is usually all up by Thanksgiving. Not this year. I walked out and looked at it on Thanksgiving Day. The first 20 feet or so was up; every single one. The next 10 feet or so (I'm not a measurer or straight line gardener) was barren, clear to the end. There was a single garlic plant emerged at the very end.

The first thing that popped in my mind was that I will have to buy garlic from someone in 2014. Then I began trying to figure out what happened. Logically, one would assume that I had planted a bad garlic clove. But, what about the one that came up on the end. It didn't make sense that there was one good clove out of the whole head. I had more garlic that could have been planted but decided that Thanksgiving was just too late. Oh well, I'll plant some first thing in March and hope it does well.

I walked out in the garden on January 14th and it is all up now. The row is complete. I don't know what happened, but all is well.

(c) 2014 High Virginia Outdoors All Rights Reserved

At Least I Have Some Garlic

I pulled my garlic on Tuesday; yes pulled. Never in my life have I ever been able to pull up my garlic; without damage. The ground is just dry powder. A few years ago, we had some rain and then it got hot and dry at harvest time. I had to beat a crowbar into the ground and pry up each bulb. This year, I didn't even have to pull very hard for it to come up. It is probably the nicest crop that I've had here; though. Glad to have it!

Garden Wonder

The poor old garden is in a standstill, waiting for spring, like everything else.  Not much is happening down there; under the snow.  But I do imagine that the chickweed continues to grow.  I don't even know if my garlic emerged last fall; when it was time, it was covered with snow.

Fifty degrees this morning with howling winds.  Rain and snow by evenings end. One day it will stop and spring will emerge; all will rejoice.  But soon after the heat will come and everything will be parched and dry.  We all enjoy the fleeting days of spring; but there is always too much that needs to be done.

Chicken of the Woods-Tomorrows' Meal

These Chicken of the Woods mushrooms were photographed on the morning of September 1. I am going to pick them tomorrow morning Sept. 3rd. They will be simmered in garlic and olive oil and will be topped with a nice juicy Brandywine. Kind of makes you want to drool dosen't it?






The Complete Mushroom Book: Savory Recipes for Wild and Cultivated Varieties

Simply Garlic

Onions, Leeks, and Garlic: A Handbook for Gardeners (W. L. Moody Jr. Natural History Series)Growing Great Garlic: The Definitive Guide for Organic Gardeners and Small FarmersThe Complete Book of Garlic: A Guide for Gardeners, Growers, and Serious CooksGrowing and Using Garlic: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-183

Harvest time is here; the aroma of homemade spaghetti sauce permeates the home. It is made with care, using only the freshest ingredients: basil, peppers, tomatoes, onions and dried up, flavorless garlic, imported from California or China. You can do better than that.

Nothing is simpler or less labor intensive to grow than garlic. It doesn’t require large spaces or tender loving care to be happy. You do need to acquire your bulbs now. Waiting until late September or early October will leave you disappointed. Start looking for your bulbs now. Farmers markets or local growers are a good starting point. They are harvesting their crops now and should have a surplus. Mail order and on-line seed suppliers are another good choice. I have my best production with the hard neck varieties of Siberian and German Extra Hardy. Polish Softneck is also a good choice. When you have acquired your bulbs, the hardest part is over.

In October, sometime around or shortly after Columbus Day, turn off the football game and go out to your garden area. Spade up your selected spot, about three feet wide and 10 feet long. This will allow you plenty of space for one pound of cloves. I like to plant mine in a border, around the area that I plan to put cabbage and broccoli in next spring. This seems to help confuse Cabbage Butterflies. Separate your cloves, plant each clove blunt end down, pointy end up, four inches apart and two inches deep. You can plant in rows or whatever pattern you desire. Garlic doesn’t care, as long as it is spaced properly. Cover the cloves as you plant them. Add some compost or organic fertilizers to the top of your bed at this time. By Thanksgiving, you should see new garlic sprouts emerging. When the ground freezes for the first time, throw about two inches of straw on top of your plants. Now; the next step is to leave them alone; until spring. Garlic plants may have a growth spurt if there is a warm period in January. Do not add additional straw to top them off at this time. You will smother the plants. I learned this the hard way.

Your plants will start growing quickly; when the daffodils start shooting up. Carefully rake the straw from your plants. Don’t worry about frost, it will not hurt your plants. They may look ugly for a few days, but they will recover finely. When the tops reach a height of around ten inches, sprinkle a couple of hands full of blood meal around your plants. Do this again in late May and just leave them alone. This is real time consuming, isn’t it?

During mid to late July, you will notice your leaves beginning to turn yellow. When the top two or three leaves turn brown, it is harvest time. Do not try to pull your plants. Dig up the individual bulbs. Rinse off any excess dirt, hang the entire plant in a shaded area, with air circulation. Do not try to dry the plants in direct sunlight. I dry mine in a gazebo, hanging from the rafters. When the foliage is brown and dry; cut it off. Leave about one inch of stem and snip off the roots at the base. You will have all the fresh garlic you will need. Store the excess in paper bags, in your refrigerator crisper. Keep some to plant for next years crop. The excess will store well for four to six months.

This was simple and not very time consuming wasn’t it? Enjoy.