garlic

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I am really addicted to fresh garlic. I use it everyday and I think it really keeps my family healthier. How can I stock up on it? How could I grow it in Iowa? Thank you ahead of time.

-- a mom (bad@breath.com), September 12, 1999

Answers

you can buy fresh chopped garlic in cans or jars! they last forever, taste great and alot less work! hope this helps! eddy ps any supermarket

-- eddy (xxx@xxx.com), September 13, 1999.

a mom,

Ditto the above. Garlic in jars also freezes really well.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), September 13, 1999.


You can grow garlic in Iowa quite easily. I planted mine in the spring and got an abundance of reasonable sized bulbs by Aug. Some of the books say to plant in the spring, but I haven't tried that. I do think you need to watch what kind of garlic you buy for planting, but by saving some back to be planted each year, you only need to buy once. Check the Burpee or Gurney's catalog. I can't remember which I bought mine at.

-- Beckie (sunshine_horses@yahoo.com), September 13, 1999.

Find some really nice garlic at the grocery store and plant it. Plant in fall and then mulch it good for winter. Harvest in August. Dry your bulbs out a bit and plant it again the same month. We too grow and eat lots of garlic and onions too. And do you have garlic chives? They are REALLY garlicky. I cut them and dry them and then just toss in a handful in stuff that I am cooking. The chives are mutipliers so I am continually giving them away. In our Fl climate they are growing all year. I don't know why I dry them when I have tons outside my kitchen door. Habit left over from living where there was winter, I guess.

Taz

-- Taz (Tassie@aol.com), September 13, 1999.


I have purchased sliced dehydrated garlic in a plastic container fro Whole Foods Market. I like it this way because it is so convenient -- no need to even chop it up.

-- Rick (rick7@postmark.net), September 13, 1999.


Dear a Mom- would strongly suggest that you not plant grocery store garlic- for several reasons. One- it is generally California grown, and not necessarily hardy in Iowa. Two- it may have garlic diseases.

To obtain good seed garlic to plant- you can either buy it from a catalog such as Johnny's Seeds or ronningers- order now. Or- buy local seed garlic- find a local grower- look at the farmers market for instance- and buy some seed garlic from a garlic grower there. Or- if you e-mail me- I'll get you in touch with a local grower here who I buy my seed garlic from- great stuff.

You need to chose between softneck, hardneck or both to grow. Softneck stores longer than hardneck but hardneck has the best taste. I grow both- use your hardneck up first.

Planting- in a well composted bed- poke holes about 6 -8 inches apart- a couple of inches deep. Put the individual cloves in each hole- blunt side down- pointed tip facing up. cover the holes. Mulch heavily with hay or straw. that's it. Here in Northern New england- I plant the end of October- you'll probably want to plant between the end of Sept- end of october. the idea is to allow for some root growth prior to the ground freezing, but no top growth. top growth should occur in spring.

If you plant hardneck- you'll need to remove the scapes- these occur in summer and are the flower stalk- cut off when nicely curled- saute, stir fry, etc them- they taste great- are a big seller for me.

Harvest aug-Sept- when a number of the leaves have turned brown. Just pull them up by their roots and hang in bunches to dry out of the sun- when totally dry, brush off dirt with a scrub brush- that's it. store garlic hanging in a dark coolish spot, or in mesh bags.

How much to plant- for home use- 2 lbs or so should be sufficient.

Elephant garlic BTW is actually a large leek- not a true garlic.

I think that should about do it- oh yes- keep the garlic well weeded- doesn't compet well with weeds- leave heavy mulch on it-

-- farmer (hillsidefarm@drbs.com), September 13, 1999.


plant in the fall,the bulbs need a good hard freeze so that they know that winters over and it's time to grow

-- zoobie (zoobiezoob@yahoo.com), September 16, 1999.

I would quote the Burpee bulletin but Farmer seems to have covered it already. Except to say that the Burpee bulletin came out yesterday and sugested:

* In most areas, garlic is planted four to six weeks before the ground freezes to allow the roots to get established. In the Midwest and the North, this typically means October. In the South and where winters are mild, garlic is planted in November and December.


Chuck

-- Chuck, a night driver (rienzoo@en.com), September 17, 1999.

I ordered garlic bulbs from Pinetree Gardens late last fall. They arrived yesterday.

Here's the instructions that were enclosed:

PLANTING Plant root end [flat end] down about 2" deep, 6" apart. Mulch lightly.

SPRING CARE Encourage vigorous growth by applying a foliar spray every two weeks. [I recommend foliar feeding highly]

Hey folks, this guy can't visualize a life without garlic. I even use it in my egg dishes (hot sauce too).

-- Bingo1 (howe9@pop.shentel.net), September 18, 1999.


A good way to store garlic: separate cloves (don't peel) and place on baking tin. Bake in medium hot oven for 20 mins or until soft. Cool and put in sterilised glass jar with tight fitting lid. Cover with olive oil.

This keeps for years and has a milder flavour than raw garlic. Add some sliced roasted peppers for color and flavour

-- Trying hard (Good@cook.com), September 24, 1999.



Trying harder,

I am duh in the kitchen on some things...do you peel the garlic after roasting...before putting in the olive oil or not...Thanks.

Bingo 1...thank goodness I am not the only one (but definitely the only one in my family...as they often point out!) :-)

-- Lilly (homesteader145@yahoo.com), September 24, 1999.


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