You didn't think you were done planting just because it's fall, did you? It's bulb season and the queen of bulbs is - Garlic! OK, there are prettier bulbs, but none so useful.
Garlic needs a nice cold, sleep, to plump up and fill your pantry with dozens of bulbs next summer. It should be available now, in the garden center. Don't wait until you are ready to plant, because the best bulbs will be gone. There are hundreds of wonderful garlic varieties you will probably never get to experience unless you grow them yourself. Here's a sampler with varieties suitable to just about every gardening area.
Growing garlic is so easy, I can't imaging why it's not in everyone's garden. Poke a few cloves in the ground in the fall, and come spring, you can start heating up the olive oil. The only challenge is being patient. Let us know which garlic you like to grow and when you plant it.
Photo: © Marie Iannotti
Comments
I didn’t know elephant garlic is not actually garlic.I learn something every day.
I always leave the scapes.I love them.Great in stir fry’s!
I’ve never tried growing elephant garlic, have you? I’ve always thought of it as garlic on training wheels and I haven’t had much use for it. Maybe I should show it more respect?
No,I never have.
I first heard about it years ago when I was walking through a local park.It’s a park where we have community gardens.Well,I went over to the gardens to see what folks were growing and I came across an old Russian gentleman working his plot.We got to talking and I noticed his patch of ‘garlic’.He said it was elephant garlic and he raved over it.Nice and mild he said for folks who don’t care for strong garlic.
Well,I talked with him for a good hour or so about growing vegetables.HIs knowledge put me to shame.
I’ll try elephant garden next year.If I can find it now.
This year, we’re growing Chesnok Red, Romanian Red, Music, Spanish Roja, Inchellum Red, and California Red. We kinda like garlic.