Garlic
posted in Onion Family |
Garlic Cultivation Requirements
Soil
A rich soil that is moisture retentive with good drainage(no waterlogging). Do not plant on soil that has been freshly manured as this could lead to rotting. Since garlic cloves are planted Autumn to Winter, good drainage is essential to ensure the bulbs do not rot over winter.
Position
Grow your garlic in full sun - garlic needs warmth to grow quickly in order to produce and ripen good sized bulbs.
Crop Rotation
Plant garlic in the same place as Brassicas were in the previous season.
Garlic Varieties
| Variety | Comments |
| Purple Wight | Early, purple streaked bulbs. Use from fresh from June, does not store well. |
| Spanish Roja | Strong flavour. Stores well, easy to peel. |
| Californian Late | Late, large bulbs, stores well. Rich almost sweet flavour. |
| Solent White AGM | Late, good yield. Stores very well(until following spring). |
When To Plant Garlic
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sow | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Harvest | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Garlic Spacing & Depth
Bulbs should be 10cm(4 inch) apart, rows 23-30cm (9-12 inch).
Gently split a bulb into individual cloves and push the small cloves into the soil. The tip of the bulb should be just hidden below the surface. Firm in gently.
Care of Garlic
Make sure that for the first few weeks after planting that any bulbs that have become loose are pushed back and firmed in. Also check for bird or animal damage. Be careful with weeding as the garlic is shallow rooted and doesn’t like root disturbance.
Spring and early Summer they require an occasional thorough soaking during dry spells will give better yields. Once the bulbs are large, do not water as this can encourage rotting.
Harvesting Garlic
Plants are ready to harvest when the stems begin to yellow and bend over. Lifts as you would Onions, with a fork. Then spread out and lay on the soil in the sun to dry out. Again as with Onions, you can tie the stems together to bunch the garlic bulbs and hang to allow the air to circulate and dry the bulbs.
Common Garlic Problems
Mould or Rust
Mould or rust may occur during prolonged wet periods. The bulbs need to be thrown away or burnt. During rainy periods give protection with a cloche, but allow ventilation.
Onion White Rot
If the foliage is yellow and wilts check for fluffy white growths, this is Onion White Rot. Plants should be thrown away(not composted) and don’t grow garlic or onions in the same area for at least 8 years.
Nutrition & Health
Studies have shown that garlic - especially aged garlic - can have a powerful antioxidant effect. Antioxidants help to protect the body against damaging ‘free radicals’.
| Nutrient | Units | Value per 100g |
| Proximates | ||
| Water | g | 58.58 |
| Energy | kcal | 149 |
| Energy | kj | 623 |
| Protein | g | 6.36 |
| Total fat | g | 0.5 |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | g | 33.06 |
| Fiber, total dietary | g | 2.1 |
| Sugars, total | g | 1. |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium, Ca | mg | 181 |
| Iron, Fe | mg | 1.7 |
| Magnesium, Mg | mg | 25 |
| Phosphorus, P | mg | 153 |
| Potassium, K | mg | 401 |
| Sodium, Na | mg | 17 |
| Zinc, Zn | mg | 1.16 |
| Copper, Cu | mg | 0.299 |
| Manganese, Mn | mg | 1.672 |
| Selenium, Se | µg | 14.2 |
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | mg | 31.2 |
| Thiamin | mg | 0.200 |
| Riboflavin | mg | 0.110 |
| Niacin | mg | 0.700 |
| Pantothenic acid | mg | 0.596 |
| Vitamin B-6 | mg | 1.235 |
| Folate, total | µg | 3 |
| Folic acid | µg | 0 |
| Folate, food | µg | 3 |
| Folate, DFE | µg_DFE | 3 |
| Vitamin B-12 | µg | 0.00 |
| Vitamin A, IU | IU | 0 |
| Retinol | µg | 0 |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | mg | 0.01 |
| Vitamin E, added | mg | 0.00 |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | µg | 1.4 |
| Other | ||
| Cholesterol | mg | 0 |
| Alcohol, ethyl | g | 0.0 |
| Caffeine | mg | 0 |
| Theobromine | mg | 0 |
| Carotene, beta | µg | 0 |
| Carotene, alpha | µg | 0 |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | µg | 0 |
| Lycopene | µg | 0 |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | µg | 26 |
Preservation
Garlic can be dried and hung in mesh bags or braided together and stored in a cool (10-21°C or 50-60°F) place for several months.
Garlic Hints & Tips
Don’t let garlic burn in hot oil as it will have a bitter taste.
Garlic is a powerful antibacterial with more than 33 sulfur-containing substances that do battle with enemies such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Garlic was used to treat wounds and is even used today to treat antibiotic-resistant infections.
Garlic Recipes
Have you got any Garlic recipes? Add a comment below and we’ll add it.
Tags [gardening |garden |gardener |vegetable |vegetables |garlic]
This entry was posted on Thursday, June 14th, 2007 at 9:00 am and is filed under Onion Family. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.