Hello Garlic growers and friends
I have been exchanging information with Garlic Growers and related folks from many regions for a very long time.
The common or “fixed” variable is that all the original genetics or seed come from My Seeds (heads and cloves) grown in Bovina, NY. For the newer, or not as deeply involved
folks, Garlic may be the most magnificent gift you give yourself, when you consider choosing one plant embodying the essence of what a ‘gift’ is.
A short dissertation about the almost magical properties of this ancient herb is that there are hundreds of variations. My wife thinks that we have grown over 40 cultivars in quantities but have tried and definitely tasted well over 50. In 34 years, I have about 16-18 that we consider ‘main’ varieties (cultivars) and every year I try to propagate a few more. This year we have 18 main (between 40 and 150) all stars and trying to propagate another 9. Probably around 1800+ Heads. This year my fellow scientist Barbara wanted me to enlarge a bunch of tiny size samples into our usual huge and delicious characteristics. This is only a hobby and a source of Gift Giving. We give about 30 friends and relatives 2 or so heads of between 9 and 15 cultivars as a once a year: birthday, X-mas, Holidays, remembrance; whatever! Giving a box of chocolates would be much easier, cheaper and less time consuming, but giving a bunch of health, taste from ’sweat equity’, THAT is a gift.
I am amused by knowledge. It seems I realize how little I know the more I try to learn. Every year I try to remind my Grower friends about important times to check ‘waypoints’ or gestation milestones. I also get amused when people say growing garlic is very easy??? Yes, garlic is easy, great Garlic is a pain and requires a lot of work. Think about it, what crop takes Planting in Oct-Nov (About 4 of us are in zone 4-5, some South, some ‘beachy’ areas, some middle climates, etc.). My area is 2,000’ in Ski area, some say I live in Southern Siberia. We ‘pull’ and start to cure in July and don’t get fully ‘ripe’ until September…11 months! Garlic takes longer for full gestation than a human baby!
Over the years I curated, tried, and culled my tastes to grow Only Hard Neck and only 4 subspecies (mainly). Many reasons…taste is #1. There is a huge difference in wines, beers, Vodkas, etc. as well as many spices and foods of all types. My #2 reason is health. Garlic has 130 or so Sulphur compounds and Garlic is a primary Prebiotic (onion, asparagus, leeks and Garlic). Garlic is especially powerful as a sort of ‘fertilizer’ for the other Probiotics, and Gut Health is the primary ’nutrition network’ for the immune system.
I can get extremely technical but just as a hint; my major studies for 40 years have to do with Serotonin…a very difficult to understand neurotransmitter that is made in the Gut and only about 1% in the brain. However, serotonin is a primary factor in our ‘feeling of happiness’ (or not - depression). I have a fairly extensive background in Cognitive Psychology. The Gut Biome has a direct link to our brain (called the second brain) and anything that makes our gut happy is a very good thing. There is a reason for other ‘health benefits’ besides purely physical.
OK, back to the dirt part: Garlic has a Symbiotic relationship with mycorrhizal activity. The roots of Garlics are tiny, maybe 6-7 inches. However, they are an atom bomb worth of Nutrients. They have an exchange relationship with hyphae bringing elements from many levels and distance. Garlic is a magnet for so many trace elements that we really don’t know enough about its arcane medicinal abilities yet.
Many years ago, our group tried mixing in Pro Mix BX as a starter for establishing a “Mushroom” network (I spoke with the chief ’scientist’ as I’m a very careful [skeptical] researcher). We used mushroom compost, maybe BS to a degree, however, better than nothing. Years ago, I tried Activated Biochar to 2 of 5 beds; it seemed to make a difference and now all my beds have Activated (must be activated as it will sequester nutrients instead of storing and dissipating them over time). Liquid Fish emulsion is a must early in season and before ’Scapes’ appear. For some strange reason, Garlic Loves Seafood? Kelp, seaweed, shells of Lobster/crabs…anything from a Sea source?
Every year I try something in a controlled manner. This one is a ’strange’ experiment however. I’m trying half beds of the same cultivar (about 8 or so?) where I’m using a top dressing between rows of this “raised bed soil”. Yes, I’m adding a ’soil’ between rows and only place it on the East Half (3 beds are 100% full sun, 2 have full sun only after about 11 am (east side is retarded sun wise). I did this East soil experiments in all 5 beds of selected cultivars. I’ll report back in July!
I won’t bore you with last year’s lush beds. I have some quick shots. Also, a little bit of a gratuitous shot of a huge Dandelion (should be a ‘pin up model’ in a Landscapers locker room?) IN Asparagus beds. Very difficult to mess around in asparagus beds as they have massive (we have 5 20-35 yr old beds) roots systems.
As I mentioned: PREBIOTICS are garlic, Onion, Asparagus and Leeks…we grow LOTS of them except Leek. Your gut is your doctor and drug store.