When one wants to cultivate at home or on the balcony, it is advisable to choose among the easiest vegetables to grow and among these there is certainly garlic .
Let's see how.
When to grow garlic and what variety to choose
Winter is the best time to start cultivating this vegetable, being its planting period from November to March ; in fact, to cultivate the garlic simply serve garlic cloves which will be buried 3 centimeters deep in quite large pots.
To find garlic cloves, or more technically called "garlic cloves", it is possible to go to specialized shops like the agrarians or take the garlic used in cooking .
For this last food garlic is essential that it is from organic farming to ensure the absence of synthetic chemicals and avoid the presence of substances that block germination otherwise we will not have our garlic cultivation.
The choice of the garlic variety is also important and it is usually better to opt for typical local varieties that grow well in the climate in which you live. In Italy garlic grows spontaneously in the countryside and there are more than 30 different types of wild garlic . The cultivated garlic has been selected from these wild varieties and currently there are typical Italians such as the white garlic of Piacenza, the red garlic of Nubia, the garlic of Caraglio and the white garlic of Vessalico.
The garlic clove is then planted with the apex turned upwards and the cloves should be spaced at least 15 centimeters apart.
The growth of the garlic will be faster depending on the size of the bulbillo because it is precisely the greater presence of substance in the bulb that allows the growth of the garlic bud, therefore the larger bulbils will sprout before the others.
The time of garlic cultivation varies according to the variety and on average it takes 60 days before it can be picked .
Garlic among the spontaneous edible plants of January
Garlic cultivation: location, soil and irrigation
The exposure and the terrain can change based on the varieties of garlic ; for example the garlic sativum likes to be in a sunny position and in a well-drained soil while the garlic bear prefers the half shade, a soil rich in organic substance and suffers less water stagnation.
In general, garlic prefers soils rich in humus even if it grows well even in less favorable conditions; important is that the soil is loose and not too compact as in the case of some clays.
Irrigation for garlic must be regular at the beginning of its germination and may decrease during the period of end of cultivation. Garlic does not like stagnant water and it is sufficient to water it once a week, checking that the soil dries between one watering and the next. Remember that water should never be left in the saucer because mold growth and fungal diseases can occur with the risk of losing the crop.
Garlic can also be used to protect other ornamental plants and other vegetables from attacks by pests and diseases thanks to the repellent substances it contains inside. To obtain this effect it will be sufficient to bury a few cloves of garlic in the cultivated jars to have a favorable association between these plants.
23574.jpg "data-type =" article_long), : alt => "garlic flower")%>
Garlic collection and storage
Garlic is ready for harvest when the leaves that come out of the ground are yellowed and become almost dry. From this moment you can uproot the plants by removing them from the earth and leaving them to dry outdoors for a few days. If the temperatures are too low then the drying must take place in a closed and well-ventilated area.
Once dried, the garlic can be kept for many months until it is used, provided that it is kept in the dark and dry. If the garlic should sprout before being cooked then replant the cloves and you will have a second harvest. It is also possible to use garlic flowers for food purposes and this particular use of garlic will make you discover a pleasant aroma on salads, in classic mayonnaise or in vegetable sauces.
When the garlic produces the flower stem, the bulb is emptied which will no longer be suitable for food use; it is therefore customary in cultivation to sever the flower stem at the beginning of its development to avoid flowering .
Once the garlic was stored, sand boxes were prepared in which vegetables such as garlic, onions, carrots and potatoes were placed and placed inside the cellars for their seasonal use. He also used to be prepared and stored in plaits hanging in the wooden beams of ceilings or near the doors of peasant houses.
This use is also known to drive away vampires because the smell of garlic is an excellent antibacterial, antiviral and keeps away all kinds of ailments!
