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I spent a merry hour this morning harvesting the garlic whilst dodging the showers. I’m really pleased with the bulbs, they’re the biggest I’ve ever grown. I planted cloves of ‘Cristo’ at the end of last year, they spent a few months buried under deep snow but are none the worse for it. Garlic needs a spell of cold weather – it certainly got that!
The bulbs are currently laid out on racks in the greenhouse to dry, when they ‘rustle’ they’re ready to store either in nets or old tights. I might plait the leaves this year and hang them.
Just as an experiment and for fun (because that’s what gardening is all about) I popped a few organic shop bought cloves in some spare ground when I planted the Cristo cloves. Here’s the result:
Yeah I know they’re small but look at that colour, gorgeous! They split well and are totally usable so I’m chuffed with them. If you’ve never grown a single veg in your life I’d highly recommend starting with garlic. Dead easy to do just pop some garlic cloves in a spare patch of soil (pointy end facing upwards) anytime from autumn to winter, just under the soil level will do then look forward to some home-grown garlic. Yummy!
I don’t think mine are ready yet, but they were spring planted. I’m growing 3 varieties: one shop bought (Porcelain garlic), some home-grown from last year (thereby adapting the strain to my growing conditions) and some Sicilian Red sets sent from T&M. Guess which ones are the worst? Yep, the Sicilians! Yours look great; will look out for Christo next year.
I will grow Cristo again, it’s done really well considering the conditions its had to endure with our strange weather. I hope your Sicilians gather pace and produce some nice bulbs for you soon.
Nice looking Garlic :) Ours have been up for a while and you have reminded me that I need to string them up :)
Nice look garlic Karen.
Mine was a little hit and miss to be honest, but overall i was happy with the haul.
I like the box you have to keep yours in!! :)