Page 19 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 142

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Let it Grow – All Things Garlic

By Marion Dalley centre, or fresh from your local begin to yellow and fall over, but
farmer. The larger the cloves that before they are completely dry. If
are planted, typically the larger the pulled too early, the bulb wrapping
wo scents that I really love are
end result will be. will be thin and easily disintegrate.
Tcoffee brewing in the morning,
Separate the garlic cloves from If left in the ground too long, the
and garlic cooking at any other time
each other on the bulb, and plant bulbs sometimes split apart. A good
of the day.
about one to two inches deep in rule of thumb is to dig one bulb
Garlic is a flavour powerhouse.
poorly drained soil such as clay, first, to ensure that it has reached
From garlic butter used for bread
or slightly deeper; two to three the desired state.
or a dip for special seafood, roasted
inches in sandy, well-drained To harvest, carefully dig (don’t
garlic to add to sauces and pastas
Photo Submitted soil. Plant the cloves with the pull or yank stems by hand) up the
or folded into mashed potatoes,
fresh garlic to add to dressings, you minced, chopped, or crushed in pointed end upwards, the flat end bulbs using a garden fork. Avoid
just can’t go wrong. But aside from order for this transformation to take down. Mulch the area heavily, damaging the roots, especially the
the obvious taste pleasures garlic place. At least ten (10) minutes providing the protection needed root plate (where they attach to the
brings, it is also loaded with health prior to adding the garlic to a over the cold winter. Once it is bulb). Lift the plants and carefully
benefits. recipe, prepare the cloves in the warm enough in the springtime brush off surplus soil, but do not
The first thing to be aware aforementioned manner. This will and the threat of frost has passed, remove any foliage or roots before
of is that garlic contains alliin. give the alliin time to change into uncover the garlic. Garlic needs putting them to dry thoroughly. To
When garlic is crushed, minced, allicin and be far more effective as good fertilization so side dress dry the garlic bulbs, leave them
chopped, or processed, the enzyme a health benefit. with blood meal, pelleted chicken in a shady, breezy space, possibly
alliinase converts the alliin into Garlic can be planted in late fall manure, or pelleted fertilizer a few spread on chicken wire attached to
allicin. Firstly, this is responsible for a crop that will be harvested times during growing period. Water posts, assuring air reaches all sides
for the odour of garlic, but more starting in late June, until August. every 3 to 5 days during bulbing of the garlic. Or hang them upside
importantly, allicin is a rapidly In our area, planting garlic should (mid-May through June). Taper down in bundles of 6 or so. This will
absorbed compound which has ideally be done during the month off the watering towards the end of usually take a few weeks. Once they
shown to have several therapeutic of October. The bulbs should have June. are completely dried, brush off any
effects. These can include as an at least 3 to 4 weeks of growing The hardneck garlic varieties dirt, and store in a cool, dry, dark
antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti- prior to the first frost. There are a grow ‘scapes’; flowering stems. space. Do not store where there is
asthmatic, immunoregulator, or few types of garlic available, some These must be cut off to encourage too much humidity or dampness,
a blood pressure lowering agent. of which are hardneck, softneck, energy to be spent on fattening such as the refrigerator or a damp
In perhaps more layman terms, and elephant. Hardneck is what we the bulbs. The extra bonus is the basement. The flavour improves
garlic helps to reduce the severity will typically find at the farmers’ scapes are delicious and can be with age.
of common cold symptoms, helps markets and is the hardiest type used chopped into salads or used in Growing your own garlic will
manage cholesterol and blood that can withstand the more severe stir-fries. certainly feel like an achievement.
pressure, boosts heart health, frosts that happen in our zone. Keep the garlic well weeded. Happy garlicky day!
and can reduce the risk of liver When planting, give the garlic When ready to harvest, the clue A nickel will get you on the
problems, amoung other benefits. cloves enough space, they do not is to look for yellowing foliage, subway, but garlic will get you a
The most important bit to like to be crowded. Use stock that but this isn’t the case for all garlic seat.
remember is that garlic must be you have purchased from a garden varieties. Harvest when the tops –Yiddish proverb