Garlic- Easy to grow in Canada and America

Garlic

Why do you grow garlic in Canada and America.

It grows easily well in Canada and America. The imported garlic is grown with chemicals banned in certain countries. The imported garlic is picked much before it gets here and sprayed with methyl bromide ( a toxic substance)  which stops sprouting. When you buy these imported garlic you are doing " buy one get one free" you get frequent illness too.

Read this:
http://www.lambsearsandhoney.com/2010/06/australian-garlic-vs-imported-garlic-whats-the-difference/

Garlic varieties are divided into two:  hard neck and soft neck. Hard neck has large cloves and cold tolerant, and delicious. Smaller soft neck cloves grow well in warmer climates is common in super markets and stores for a long period.

Highly rated varieties for BC coastal gardens are: purple softneck, Musica, Red Russian, Italian Porcelain.

Planting.

Use a hoe to form 3 inch deep furrows spaced 8 inch apart. Space cloves  5 inches apart, and cover with 2 inches soil on top. 

Growing

Plant garlic 2 to 4 weeks before the frost  in  fall to harvest in summer. When planted before frost, the roots will go deep and the plant will remain dormant and will start growing in spring, when weather improves.  It is better to plant in the middle of September or third week of September or beginning of October in BC,Canada.  After planting cover bed with 4 inch layer of loose straw mulch to prevent from frost and weed. However do not mulch in climates with wet, mild winters. As soon as you notice new growth pull the mulch away from the plants in to spaces between furrows.

Garlic in pots
Plant garlic 1 to 2 inch deep 4 inch apart in good potting soil.

Growing tips.

Avoid too much watering after the flower bulb is formed. The deep roots will collect water. Clear any humus that can create fungus especially close to the bulb. If the bulb is planted too deep that may cause fungus on the bulb.

Harvesting

Garlic leaves taste similar to garlic chives. You can cut one or two leaves off the plant as soon as they become 8 inch tall with a sharp knife.

Cut the scapes ( flower)  when they emerge from the  from the topmost  leaves just as they begin  to curl. Removing scapes encourages the bulbs to grow bigger.

When half the leaves have yellowed use garden fork and loosen the soil pull it out.

Storing

After harvesting mature bulbs tie six plants together and hang them in warm, dry, shady spot for 3 to 4 weeks until the papery wrappers are very dry. Use  tooth brush to remove excess soil and trim the roots. Keep the bulbs in cool, dry , non frost spot for around six months to one year. Keep them  in net nylon bags in open cartons. Garage without heating may be a better spot. 

You can easily grow them in your backyard or pots. The shoots in spring  look so beautiful when there is no much greenery around. Moreover you will get organic pesticide free and chemical free garlic too.

Read this  to know how good is  imported garlic we get in super markets.Ref: http://www.lambsearsandhoney.com/2010/06/australian-garlic-vs-imported-garlic-whats-the-difference/

useful video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA034iOkenQ