3 Tips For Growing And Storing Garlic At Home

Even though garlic is a staple ingredient in your food cupboard, it isn’t grown all year long, making it more expensive in its off season. So, while you wait for winter to roll around, you can gather your kids and plant some of your own to ensure that you have a handy supply whenever you need it.

1. Plant It at The Right Time
As with any fruit, vegetable or spice, planting it at just the right time is important. Plant garlic during late autumn or early spring to create a cool environment for the bulb to settle. Garlic is grown during summer, so the hot months are essential for its growth, but that little bit of cold helps it along nicely.

2. Harvest Time
Your garlic is ready to be harvested when the leaves have yellowed and the top of the stalk is falling over. Make sure to wear gloves as the smell of freshly picked garlic is as pungent as when you’re cooking with it. Dry your bulbs in the sunshine after washing them to remove the soil. Ensure that the bulbs are completely dry before storing.

3. Storage
When you’ve decided which bulbs are best to keep, you should select which ones you’d like to replant for next season. Leaving bulbs whole is important as this extends the lifespan of the bulb. Store bulbs in shallow cardboard boxes, in slatted wooden boxes, on trays or in stockings – any way that allows air circulation around each bulb. The place where they are stored must be dry, airy and at room temperature. It’s best to check bulbs every few weeks and remove any diseased ones. If properly stored, your bulbs will last for twelve months or longer.