Home grown garlic and how to use it like a boss - And additional advice for making homemade spices.

[Burd Turglar]

I've grown a lot of my spices in my garden. That being said, I've never thought to try to grow my own garlic. What you are saying about the very obviously dubious sources of this stuff, including the chinese sources being extremely prevalent on the market, I am going to seriously look into growing my own garlic. Members of my family have warned me about chinese garlic years ago and it is only getting harder and harder to avoid it.

Farmers markets have always been a great source for various varieties in my experience. There's also a nation wide sub culture of garlic heads here in the states. DM me and I can send you some contact info.

I wish you good luck and bountiful harvests fren!

 

[torpig xmr]

Farmers markets have always been a great source for various varieties in my experience. There's also a nation wide sub culture of garlic heads here in the states. DM me and I can send you some contact info.

I wish you good luck and bountiful harvests fren!

i did dm you. i will check my local farmers market next weekend as well

 

[Dr. Ricearoni]

Oh yeah, garlic thread.
So far no updates, I checked out in the garden just a bit before December started and I didn't see anything sprouting, possibly because I was a few weeks late, so all I can do now is hang in there until spring and hope my garlic sprouts when it warms up.

 

[Burd Turglar]

i did dm you. i will check my local farmers market next weekend as well

I'll get back to you with some info sometime this week! You might still be able to find some at markets, mine stays good till around March usually.

Oh yeah, garlic thread.
So far no updates, I checked out in the garden just a bit before December started and I didn't see anything sprouting, possibly because I was a few weeks late, so all I can do now is hang in there until spring and hope my garlic sprouts when it warms up.

Don't fret! It won't sprout anything till early to late spring depending on where you are. That's why I love garlic, you just set it and forget it....till you have to trim the scapes.

 

[XYZpdq Jr.]

I'm guessing Florida isn't so great. What if I grow it in my fridge?
I've grown onions in there accidentally a few times

 

[Dr. Ricearoni]

I'm guessing Florida isn't so great. What if I grow it in my fridge?
I've grown onions in there accidentally a few times

I've heard you actually can grow garlic in warmer climates if you put it in a paper bag and leave it in the freezer or fridge a while to shock it into thinking it's been overwintered before you plant it, but I actually have no clue if that's true.

 

[Burd Turglar]

I'm guessing Florida isn't so great. What if I grow it in my fridge?
I've grown onions in there accidentally a few times

You can grow garlic in Florida.

 

[Flan Handler]

Has anyone tried growing garlic from bulbils? I’ve traditionally bought clean bulbs every year, then planted the cloves in the fall. But this year I’m going to try to grow them from this year’s plants. It takes an extra year to get going, but should be sustainable going forward.

Here’s a pretty decent article on how to grow them: https://www.groeat.com/post/growing-garlic-from-bulbils

My plan is to start the bulbils indoors in one of these 1020 inserts - all in one group, then plant the tray inground in my garden after frost date. Then pull them in July, cure them, and replant like a clove in the fall. I should be able to do a couple hundred per tray, and they will be easy to plant and pull back out.

If my onion experience is any guide, they like being a bit crowded as babies anyways.

 

[Tequila Jong]

A few years back I was walking in the woods and found a massive patch of wild garlic, so I dug that shit up and planted it under some trees in my garden. It absolutely took off, and became a weed spreading all over that part of my garden.

Every part of the plant tastes amazing, and it's perfect if you're a lazy asshole - You don't need to dig for the bulb. Just pick the stems, leaves, and flowers and substitute it for garlic in any dish and it's incredible. It's obviously got a very garlicky flavour, but it's more delicate and rounded. You can even use the leaves and flowers as a salad, or blend it with olive oil and whatever else and make a pesto for pasta. Unlimited fun.

I dug up some bulbs when I left that place. I can't wait to plant them here and use wild garlic again. Store bought garlic tastes like dog food and arse now.

 

[Flan Handler]

A few years back I was walking in the woods and found a massive patch of wild garlic, so I dug that shit up and planted it under some trees in my garden. It absolutely took off, and became a weed spreading all over that part of my garden.

Every part of the plant tastes amazing, and it's perfect if you're a lazy asshole - You don't need to dig for the bulb. Just pick the stems, leaves, and flowers and substitute it for garlic in any dish and it's incredible. It's obviously got a very garlicky flavour, but it's more delicate and rounded. You can even use the leaves and flowers as a salad, or blend it with olive oil and whatever else and make a pesto for pasta. Unlimited fun.

I dug up some bulbs when I left that place. I can't wait to plant them here and use wild garlic again. Store bought garlic tastes like dog food and arse now.

I am so jealous that sounds amazing!!!

 

[Burd Turglar]

Has anyone tried growing garlic from bulbils? I’ve traditionally bought clean bulbs every year, then planted the cloves in the fall. But this year I’m going to try to grow them from this year’s plants. It takes an extra year to get going, but should be sustainable going forward.

Here’s a pretty decent article on how to grow them: https://www.groeat.com/post/growing-garlic-from-bulbils

My plan is to start the bulbils indoors in one of these 1020 inserts - all in one group, then plant the tray inground in my garden after frost date. Then pull them in July, cure them, and replant like a clove in the fall. I should be able to do a couple hundred per tray, and they will be easy to plant and pull back out.

If my onion experience is any guide, they like being a bit crowded as babies anyways.

View attachment 7092250

I only have experience with planting using my previous years harvest or what I would get from my garlic connect. Please keep the thread updated with your trials and results as this is very interesting.

A few years back I was walking in the woods and found a massive patch of wild garlic, so I dug that shit up and planted it under some trees in my garden. It absolutely took off, and became a weed spreading all over that part of my garden.

Every part of the plant tastes amazing, and it's perfect if you're a lazy asshole - You don't need to dig for the bulb. Just pick the stems, leaves, and flowers and substitute it for garlic in any dish and it's incredible. It's obviously got a very garlicky flavour, but it's more delicate and rounded. You can even use the leaves and flowers as a salad, or blend it with olive oil and whatever else and make a pesto for pasta. Unlimited fun.

I dug up some bulbs when I left that place. I can't wait to plant them here and use wild garlic again. Store bought garlic tastes like dog food and arse now.

Store garlic is garbage. I'll have to keep my eye out for wild garlic as this sounds very nice. My yard at my new/current home is like 75% wild chives right now while we wait for the grass to take off and I use them all the time.

 

[Anasa Tristis]

Excellent intro post and thread OP. Thankee.

I grow alotta garlic. Since I'm not inclined to water them after they're in, I space the cloves at 10 inches apart in the row and space the rows about a foot apart. Then I mulch thickly with chopped up leaves I collect with the lawn mower and put up a low fence around the whole thing for the winter so the leaves don't blow away. I weave 3 ft bamboo poles through the holes in plastic "poutry fencing" that I cut to 12 inches wide. Putting up the fence is the most tedious part of garlic planting time for me. But it's not that bad once you get the hang of it.

I'd like to add my drying method: Take two 2x2x8 (or whatever you got, just not too flimsy) lengths of wood (pressure treated deck scrap here). Make some small blocks (1x1x2) to use as spacers. Put the blocks between the lengths at both ends so they make a 1 inch gap and place a block every 2.5 feet or so. Drill through all three at once and connect them with the fasteners of your choice. I just wire them together. Set it up on saw horses (or whatever's high enough for good clearance) and load the garlic upside down. Cure in a shady spot with good air circulation, etc. I used to hang my garlic in bunches, but using the rack is quicker and easier for mass quantities and it's great for keeping different varieties from getting mixed up. I also got tired of the bunches falling when I didn't tie them tight enough.

I dehydrate most of my garlic about 6 months after harvest, when they start getting sprouty in my basement. Taste and shelf life is superior to store bought garlic powder. Makes a great gift too.

Another preservation tip: zip peeled cloves in a little olive oil in the food processor to desired consistency. Then either load silicone ice cube trays or blob out on a flat baking sheet with a spoon or disher. Freeze overnight. Pop out or scrape off and put in baggies and stash in the freezer. Need garlic? Grab a cube or a blob. Defrosting is advised for sauteing, but they can go right in soups and sauces.

 

[Dr. Ricearoni]

It's a little hard to make out but there's sprouts popping up from under the mulch. Should I be trimming these off now or waiting for them to grow scapes? We haven't even finished our last frost out here yet so I'm probably gonna leave them covered for now too.

 

[Burd Turglar]

View attachment 7110842
It's a little hard to make out but there's sprouts popping up from under the mulch. Should I be trimming these off now or waiting for them to grow scapes? We haven't even finished our last frost out here yet so I'm probably gonna leave them covered for now too.

Leave them covered for now and I only trim scapes and nothing else.

 

[Dr. Ricearoni]

No pictures because it's really muddy out but my garlic seems to be weathering the storms nicely, they're not all growing at the same rate but some of them are getting really leafy. I'll post pictures when the weather is nicer.

 

[Burd Turglar]

No pictures because it's really muddy out but my garlic seems to be weathering the storms nicely, they're not all growing at the same rate but some of them are getting really leafy. I'll post pictures when the weather is nicer.

You'll get that. You don't harvest for a couple months so you'll be fine. I'm living vicariously through you till I can grow again.

 

[Dr. Ricearoni]

Weather is decent today so here's a look at my garlic. There's definitely a trend towards one side growing faster, I don't know if that's because the soil is slightly more fertile there or what but it's pretty neat to see. I lost track of which garlic is which months ago but they should be different colors when I pull them.

 

[Burd Turglar]

View attachment 7214304
Weather is decent today so here's a look at my garlic. There's definitely a trend towards one side growing faster, I don't know if that's because the soil is slightly more fertile there or what but it's pretty neat to see. I lost track of which garlic is which months ago but they should be different colors when I pull them.

I tried for a couple years labeling my garlic but by havest time that shit was gone. Once I buy the new house, I'm going to do full rows about 10 feet long of each variety and have it written down on paper.

Looking good though. I wish you much luck and look forward to any updates. It'll be a year before I can post any fun pics.

 

[Free4Ever]

Planting garlic; how do?

I get the impression that you're not planting garlic seeds, so... you plant individual cloves and the cloves kinda "split" of their own accord and then grow into a whole bulb?

I tried for a couple years labeling my garlic but by havest time that shit was gone.

It'd work to put pegs into the ground to demarcate the boundary between kinds, and keep notes on which region is which kind separately. (For anyone reading along who doesn't have much space.)

 

[WanderingFarmer]

Don't discount the humble bucket or a planter that can hold at least one gallon of soil. Standard potting soil is fine for bulb development.
If you use a 5gal bucket you can plant multiple bulbs too. Just be sure to put some holes in the bottom for drainage so you don't drown them.
With any container plant too, you need to fertilize frequently. The easiest way I've found is fish emulsion every other day up to a week prior to harvest. If you have a compost pile, watering with compost "tea" works great too.
Last note, too, while fall planting is the traditional way, you can grow garlic over summer too! Give it a shot and see if it makes the bulbs taste different. You may like the winter ones better.

Also, good job OP for mentioning garlic fermented in honey. As soon as it goes watery it's ready to use. A Ball Fermenting kit for mason jars eliminates the need for turning the jar.
You can use the honey with some jalapeno flakes or chipotle mixed in as a delicious baste for grilled chicken.