Is garlic a miracle crop? Certainly, it can be used in the kitchen in many ways, and it does have medicinal properties – inhibits and destroys bacteria, fungus and parasites, lowers blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels, prevents blood clotting, protects the liver, and has anti-cancer properties, which does all sound pretty miraculous.
If that sparks your interest, here are some tips on how to get them growing in your garden, while you still can – warmer climates should have got them in the ground by now, but still have a few weeks to plant them. Cooler climates still have a bit more time.
- Separate your garlic into individual bulbs.
- Keep in the fridge for a few days, so they feel as if they have had a bit of winter dormancy, to help activate them.
- Plant them in good, well treated soil. They prefer the soil to be a little acidic, but if you focus more on the quality and life you have in your soil, the garlic will love that regardless.
- You want the soil to be loose, not packed in hard.
- Do not put them into dehydrated soil or water them irregularly, but also don’t let them get wet feet, as they will rot.
- Push down into the soil, pointy side up and lightly cover with the head sticking up. Put mulch around them – they will push through that.
- Apply diluted seaweed solution.
- Harvest to use for Christmas lunch or dinner.
- What else is so delicious and healthy, that’s a bonus!
Enjoy
Peter