We have finally arrived at the last step of growing garlic, storing the cured garlic! While the kids played in the kiddie pool I trimmed and cleaned up the garlic. It was really easy and perfect to do in the yard as the kids played.

Here’s what the garlic looks like after a few weeks of drying. I was a bit concerned about the spots on the lower parts of the garlic leaves, but as far as I can tell the garlic looks really great inside. (The first few days the garlic was drying it was really humid, but otherwise it was dry and breezy for about four weeks.)

Cured Garlic Bulbs

Pull up a chair or sit in the grass and have fun cleaning up your garlic! To trim the garlic, I used a small pruning tool which I also use to harvest greens from the garden. Keep the garlic varieties separated while you trim the roots and cut the stems/stalks. There’s no need to remove papers surrounding the garlic as that will keep everything protected in storage. I cut the stalks about 1-2″ above the head, and trimmed up the roots while removing as much dirt as I could. Each bulb was placed in a cardboard box for storage, feel free to label the boxes too! I did this after I posted the picture. The garlic is currently chilling under our basement stairs for storage. Another option is to store the garlic in hanging mesh bags (reuse bags from onion or citrus), or even pantyhose! As long as the item is breathable it can be used to store the garlic.

 

Cured Garlic Bulbs #gardening #growyourown #garlic

Here’s one of the Romanian Red heads all trimmed up and ready to use.

Garlic: Romanian Red Garlic: Romanian Red

Decisions: Plant vs. Eat

Now I have ALL this garlic, but as much as we want to we can not eat it all! (Oh, we could easily it all, but…need to plant!) While cleaning the garlic heads, pay attention to the size and condition of the heads. Tag and put aside the larger heads to plant again in the fall. The German Whites had really nice sized heads, and one was a monster with six really fat cloves. I thought of all the yummy recipes I could use that one for, but nope – it’s going back into the garden for next year! Most of the Romanian Reds were of similar size, so I just looked for the heads that looked the healthiest. I had a few heads that had a little damage, I guess from either harvest or a few falls during curing, and I used those first to cook with (they looked fine once I removed the paper, no discolorations.)

We plan on planting the same amount of garlic again next year (18 GW, 25 RR) since we’re not sure how much garlic we’ll go through in a year. During harvest we lost a GW head to some shovel damage, but back in compost it went (it was growing so not in line with the others!) It will probably take another season of growing to figure out what our garlic consumption is and if we’ll have to plant more or less, but I will tell you it was nice to walk past the garlic in the grocery store and not buy any! The quality of these cloves are really unbelievable, and nothing like you’ll find in the grocery store. They are so fresh, juicy and perfect.

Thank you Enon Valley!

I am hooked, and the process really could not have been any easier! I have to give a shout out to Enon Valley Garlic who grew such quality garlic in the first place! If you have the space to grow your own garlic, by all means go for it! Try to find a local grower since they know what works best for your area, and please don’t use garlic from the store! There’s lots of varieties suitable for almost every growing zone. It is so very worth it! (I may have already used it in a roast chicken, and oh of course….GARLIC BREAD!)

You have a few months to decide if growing garlic is for you! Planting starts early/mid October for Zone 6!

Cured German White #gardening #growyourown #garlic

 

https://i0.wp.com/www.thesugarpixie.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/wpid-20140810_161325-e1408582466616.jpg?fit=1000%2C750&ssl=1https://i0.wp.com/www.thesugarpixie.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/wpid-20140810_161325-e1408582466616.jpg?resize=150%2C150&ssl=1thesugarpixieGardeningenon valley garlic,garlicWe have finally arrived at the last step of growing garlic, storing the cured garlic! While the kids played in the kiddie pool I trimmed and cleaned up the garlic. It was really easy and perfect to do in the yard as the kids played. Here's what the garlic looks...Misadventures and fun in the kitchen and beyond