Garlic

[pennymac2003]

This is probably a crazy question but here goes. I just recently bought a place 10 acres and a very old house. Anyway, in what used to be the garden are MANY garlic plants. In fact, if the wind is just right, everything smells like garlic (keeps the deer away), anyway, do I just dig them up and dry them. They do have bulbs on the end. What do you suggest. I have never been able to grow garlic other places I have been so now that I have a lot, I have no idea how to process it. Thanks.

[Jeff54321]

"I have never been able to grow garlic other places I have been ..........."

Hard to say as I don't know where you are now. My answer would be different for Honolulu than it would be for Fairbanks.

[pennymac2003]

I am presently in central Texas. RIght now it is 50's in the day and 20-40 at night. Can I pull it now or does it need to wait until spring?

[susieM]

Leave em til you need em, then pull it as you use it. Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg? They'll keep growing without you, as it seems they've always done.

[no1cowboy]

treat them as you would onions

[uncle Will in In.]

This is the time of year to set out garlic bulbs, so you are way ahead of the game. It's very unlikely you will have use for as much as it sounds like you have. Also are you certain it isn't wild garlic. Wild garlic comes up really early in the spring. Chickens and grazing animals eat the tops because they crave the greens. The milk, butter, eggs, and meat are all unbearable to eat after they eat the garlic.

[Paquebot]

The "feral" garlic of southern states is usually elephant garlic. Spreads like crazy from both the cloves plus corms. Regular garlic, if left alone and crowded, will eventually become nothing but a sea of thin stems and leaves. Since you've apparently got so many, dig a few larger plants and see what you've got. Whatever you find, you can use it fresh.

Martin

[sheepish]

Make sure that you trim off the seed heads as they occur. These will spread the garlic and deplete the bulbs, so you only get very small garlic.

[pennymac2003]

Thank you all so much and Merry Christmas and am praying for a Great New Year for all. I believe it is domestic garlic. Years ago this was a well run little homestead but when the people who owned it died, everyone let it go. My husband and I always wanted this kind of place but getting it up to specs is really something and we are used to Northern gardening, it is a whole different ball of wax here.
Besides the garlic running everywhere, the juju bee trees have spread and it has probably taken 20 years to do that. We have thinned them but will need to do more this year, the fenses are all down, the chicken house and barn are not usable but there is great pasture and we have already added pecan trees. There is a wonderful peach tree that produced huge peaches even overun this year.
I am looking forward to using this forum to get back on track. Thanks again for all of the advice. By the way the ones I have dug are pretty good sized.

[suitcase_sally]

Originally Posted by pennymac2003

I am presently in central Texas. RIght now it is 50's in the day and 20-40 at night. Can I pull it now or does it need to wait until spring?

Go back into your profile and add your location. It will help many times in the future.

[wogglebug]

You can cut the young green leaves, then cut them across finely into tenth-inch strips. You'll get greens and the garlic taste, even if you don't have fully-grown bulbs. Quite a bit robust for some people's taste in salads (although a little bit tossed in oil and vinegar or lemon juice is fine), but do well in soups and stews.

[donsgal]

Originally Posted by pennymac2003

This is probably a crazy question but here goes. I just recently bought a place 10 acres and a very old house. Anyway, in what used to be the garden are MANY garlic plants. In fact, if the wind is just right, everything smells like garlic (keeps the deer away), anyway, do I just dig them up and dry them. They do have bulbs on the end. What do you suggest. I have never been able to grow garlic other places I have been so now that I have a lot, I have no idea how to process it. Thanks.

Well, if it were me, I'd burn them. But then I hate garlic. LOL Sure you can dry them and use them. Although I cannot, for the life of me figure why any one would want to.

donsgal