We were away all day today, but will save that story for tomorrow’s Fridays Footprints.
So just a bit about how I love garlic, before I fall off my chair into a snooze! 🙂
I hadn’t tried to grow garlic before coming to live in Tasmania. I enjoy using garlic in cooking (and now a lot in some of my sauces) so it seemed sensible to put some in the ground. The first year, they were tiddly little things. The flavour was excellent, but they were rather small.
I got some advice from one of my cousins who was growing garlic in a much bigger way. First prepare the area and dust with some lime as they like a ‘sweeter’ soil.
After that, fertilise – I used some blood and bone to dig in to the soil
June is when I put my garlic cloves in the ground. Then I pretty much forget about them until they are poking up properly out of the soil
If I am on top of my game, this is when I go down to the beach and liberate a few bags of seaweed to mulch the garlic with.
By October they are sitting up well
This last season I had to water them a bit more as our spring unusually had very little rain
December is when I pulled them all up and set them on a table (that eventually went into the garage) to dry.
I find them a lovely low maintenance crop – a bit of soil prep, plant and forget. (mostly)
A few days ago I got what was left out of the Garage (you’re welcome Jeff) and cleaned them up to store in the pantry.
I was actually a bit shocked at how little I had left already! I sell a few – reluctantly – They make a nice addition to the market table and are really popular. But to be honest I would rather keep them all to myself!
Some of them have these great little seed heads. Will throw these in the baking pan for some extra flavour next dinner I do in the oven. Does anyone else use these for anything special?
Out of what is left has to last me until the end of the year (unlikely) as well as provide the next seasons crop. I suspect this year I will set aside a larger area and plant more. That way they can pay their way yet leave me with enough for all I want to do with them too!
Who enjoys garlic and who grows their own? Do you grow enough?
Have a great day
Cheers
PS I missed what todays highest temperature was, (It was really soggy but not too cold) but right now at a little past midnight its 16 degrees Celsius (60.8F) and tomorrow is to continue with some more Autumn rain and reach about 21 deg. Celsius (70F)
We had the fire on tonight – it wasn’t super cold, but it was just cosier and nicer. Family on the mainland were laughing at me because they are still hanging out in shorts & t-shirts at night!
I think I’ll try to grow garlic!
I’m curious…. What is blood and bone?
You might know it as bone meal? Sounds horrid, but its the pulverised hooves etc from slaughter houses into powder. I actually don’t get it a lot because I use other things. (Mostly my kelp juice)
I will do another post when I plant this seasons garlic- which will be in plenty of time for when its the right tine for you to plant yours, so you can see what I do. I love having plenty of my own – often the supermarket sells garlic grown in China & I want local! My yard is local enough! lol
Re Garlic Seeds, if you plant them, they do turn into nice garlic cloves, but it does take 2 to 3 years for them to grow to “usable” size. Other use for them: We cook a lot with olive oil, and often like the flavor of garlic with what is being fixed. What couldn’t be easier is some garlic flavored olive oil. Place the garlic seeds and other small cloves in a slow cooker [crock pot in USA] with enough olive oil to cover them. Cook under low heat. When garlic is soft, strain through fresh coffee filter. Bottle the oil. The cooked garlic, when mushed up with fork makes wonderful spread for bread and cream cheese. Enjoy! I love reading what life is like there on the other side of the world.
Oh!!! I LOVE the idea of the garlic flavoured olive oil! A great use for those seeds.
I don’t think I have the patience to wait 2 or 3 years for something to grow!!! 🙂 Although it would be interesting to try a few just to see (Maybe in a pot?)
Thank-you so much for that advice & I am glad you are enjoying the posts!
Another Olive Oil flavor we enjoy is hot pepper. Carefully cut some of your hot peppers into thin strips. Just cover them in oil and slow cook. Stain and carefully taste. If too hot, add more Olive Oil. Actually, I purposely infuse just a small amount of oil so I can control the hotness after wards. Remember that sugar will calm your mouth if the oil is too hot for you.
Another great idea! (Filing these away for some Christmas present ideas too!!) I didn’t know sugar was a chilli antidote either!! 🙂
I stuck some in a pot as an experiment last October (cooler months grows them here in the US). Now that it’s April I’m not sure what to do. they look awfully spindly and I’m not sure a bulb has formed. When do you harvest?
My first ones were a bit small too… Mine were in the ground 5 – 6 months. (went in in June and out in Dec) I usually carefully scrape the dirt away around the stem to see if I can see the top of the bulb forming or formed. Also when at least three of the long ‘leaves’ have died off is a good indicator that they are about done! Even my small ones that didn’t look impressive tasted good! Hopefully you have something under the soil there!! Let me know!