Garlic (and onions) is a complete mystery to me. I know some of our FRiends here tried to educate me on garlic and onion propagation recently, but I’m finding that I am still not following the process.
I am most unclear about how to start it, then how and when to harvest. There are seeds, there are cloves, there are previously grown bulbs, and there are the things that are on the top of the plant, and I’m hazily thinking that any of these can be a source of propagation, but just not sure of the process, as I said.
I just did a search and found this:
http://www.ehow.com/how_317_grow-garlic.html
I seem to follow it pretty well, but would love it if anyone has anything to add!
Don’t have time for full reply now. I’ll try tonight. If I forget message me, because I probably will forget!
Then, I peaked out the window this afternoon and saw the cucumbers suddenly shriveled up. I watered them this morning and they were fine. So here we go, again.
Yes, gardening is more of a learning experience with our harvests costing more than it's sometimes worth. But then a tomato off the vine is a million times better than those cardboard things in the grocery. Besides, with the way things are these days, this knowledge might come in more handy than we thought just 5 years ago.
Your garlic - the seeds can be planted but they'll take longer to develop into a plant. The cloves are easier but to each his own. You can plant the cloves at most any time of year depending on your climate. Many plant them in the fall to overwinter. Plant like any flower bulb with the root end down and the pointed end up. When the leaves (tall grass-like, like onions but thicker) start to dry out, it's time to dig them up. I used to have garlic that would reseed itself without me doing a thing... until hubby continually mowed them down so now I'm having to grow them inside the fenced garden. This year, I planted some beside the squash and the squash bugs ate them, too. Or maybe it was the invasion of biblical proportion of caterpillars that did it. Ate every last onion, too. Never knew anything ate garlic or onions. We used to have wild onions all over the yard (used them like chives) but they're gone this year, too. Those wild onions were here when I was a kid so it's all very strange. I don't know what I did to tick off Mother Nature but she's certainly upset. I bought some regular garlic and elephant garlic that needs to be planted tomorrow so may need to do a dance or perform some ritual for Ms. Nature.
I don’t “get” anything that grows under the ground. I have failed at onions, garlic and potatoes. Must study this winter.
I don’t worry about the seeds, except for green onions. For slicing onions etc, I just buy the onion sets. Likewise with garlic, I usually just plant whatever I have left from those that I purchased in the super market. I have sometimes ordered garlic bulbs, but I have just as much luck with those from the super market. Most of my recipes call for garlic powder, hence I don’t need many cloves.