John Timaeus on Nostr: The first time our USDA agent came to visit the farm, we walked around, he declared ...
The first time our USDA agent came to visit the farm, we walked around, he declared it good land, he declared one area a wetland that can’t be cultivated, and then we started talking about our crop selection.
One of the first I mentioned was garlic. He admitted that he basically knew nothing about growing garlic: “How does it propagate? When do you plant?” My reply was: “Garlic is Weird.”
Garlic is allium sativum. It is the allium that forms cloves, except when it doesn’t. Lots of things we call garlic aren’t garlic. Elephant Garlic is a leek that happens to form cloves. “Garlic chives” and “Wild Garlic” are usually leeks or onions that smell garlic-ish. Solo Garlic really is a garlic that doesn’t form cloves, but instead makes a single bulb.
You can propagate garlic in lots of different ways. You won’t be buying garlic seed and planting it though. Garlic probably originated somewhere between the Middle East and China, growing in the mountains. It has contractile roots that pull a part of the leaves down into the ground. The leaves swell and store nutrients against the next cold, dry winter.
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One of the first I mentioned was garlic. He admitted that he basically knew nothing about growing garlic: “How does it propagate? When do you plant?” My reply was: “Garlic is Weird.”
Garlic is allium sativum. It is the allium that forms cloves, except when it doesn’t. Lots of things we call garlic aren’t garlic. Elephant Garlic is a leek that happens to form cloves. “Garlic chives” and “Wild Garlic” are usually leeks or onions that smell garlic-ish. Solo Garlic really is a garlic that doesn’t form cloves, but instead makes a single bulb.
You can propagate garlic in lots of different ways. You won’t be buying garlic seed and planting it though. Garlic probably originated somewhere between the Middle East and China, growing in the mountains. It has contractile roots that pull a part of the leaves down into the ground. The leaves swell and store nutrients against the next cold, dry winter.
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