Guest guest Posted March 9, 2006 Report Share Posted March 9, 2006 I've added this to the files section. I'm going to give it a shot. Sounds easy enough. ---- Garlic Growing Garlic (Allium sativum) is one of the easiest and most satisfying crops you can grow. If you're a beginner, or have a limited amount of space, garlic is the thing for you. It's reputed to be a good companion plant for roses and other shrubs, supposedly detering greenfly. In my experience it does seem to help, but isn't a guarantee against the green menace. Start with a head of garlic bought from your supermarket, or from a garden centre or gardening catalogue - it really doesn't matter too much. Traditionally garlic is planted on the shortest day of the year and harvested on the longest day of the year - I've personally found December to be fine for planting, but in most years it takes until mid-July for the heads to be ready for lifting. Garlic doesn't need a very rich soil, but does prefer a free draining soil - if yours is heavy dig in some sand or plenty of organic matter like compost before planting. Break the head into individual cloves, and plant these about 2 inches deep, 6 inches apart, in rows 6 inches apart (i.e. squares). For some of the jumbo varieties you'll need to increase this spacing, but for your standard garlic this will be fine. Plant with the flat end down the way - the new green shoot will emerge from the pointy end (a horticultural term) and by spring you'll have a good few inches of growth. If you are troubled by crows or pigeons you may wish to net your newly planted cloves as I do, as the birds may lift them just for fun. Otherwise garlic takes very little looking after. Keep weeds down by judicious use of your hoe, and water in extended dry spells. You'll know when the garlic is ready to lift because the tops turn yellow and start to dry out. Once more than half of your crop has done this lift them all gently with a fork, remove any excess soil from the hairy roots and leave them somewhere to dry thoroughly - hanging them inside or out in a sheltered spot is the best way. Once they are dried you can plait them into braided lengths and store them just about anywhere that isn't too moist or warm. Remember to keep some of the fattest cloves to plant next year - you need never buy supermarket garlic again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 Aw.... Jabba and Yoda will be so lonely now! i showed your picture to my son and he cracked right up. ~ pt ~ Unfortunate the one whose name has been linked to ill-report since youth. ~ Welsh saying ~~~*~~~*~~~> , subprong <subprong wrote: > > I've added this to the files section. I'm going to give it a shot. > Sounds easy enough. > Garlic Growing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 10, 2006 Report Share Posted March 10, 2006 On 3/10/06, ~ PT ~ <> wrote: > > Aw.... Jabba and Yoda will be so lonely now! > Surely you meant... " So lonely now, Yoda will be " . i showed your picture to my son and he cracked right up. > Cool, glad your son got a laugh, PT. S. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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