I finally pulled my garlic this past weekend. The weather was perfect for it - hot and dry. I grew three hardneck varieties this year and over 60 cloves. Despite the initial spotty check, I am VERY pleased with the final results. Most of the bulbs were just as big, if not bigger, than the ones we harvested last year. And thankfully there doesn't appear to be any signs of disease.
I find growing garlic to be very satisfying, partly because saving seed (or should I have 'clove') couldn't be any easier. Unlike other veggies, you don't have to wait for the garlic plants to wither and die completely before you have a stock for next year's crop. Most the the cloves planted in November came from last summer's harvest. Hopefully we'll be able to continue this process on for many years to come.
'Bogatyr' - This is a new variety I'm trying this year. I was unsure as to how it would perform since one of the two bulbs I received from Seed Savors Exchange was less than half the size of the other. Interestingly, all of the bulbs pulled were of a good size.
'Pskem River' - This is my second year growing this garlic. Out of the three varieties I have, Pskem River is undoubtedly the prettiest in form and color. I had spotty results growing it last year as less then half of the 9 or so cloves I planted went on to produce useful bulbs. I saved what I had to grow this year and thankfully, the results were worth the sacrifice.
'German Extra Hardy' - What it lacks in an interesting name, it more than make up for in reliability. This garlic accounts for about half of my crop this year and I'm very satisfied by how it has performed thus far.
I'm thinking of adding two more garlic varieties to my collection. If you have any suggestions, let me know!
Outstanding garlic harvest! They all look picture perfect. I am going to double my planting of Music this year. It produced beautifully and is a great tasting garlic. I need more of it!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a fantastic harvest, Thomas!
ReplyDeleteNice garlic harvest. Very jealous as only one of the 20 cloves I plants came up..lol
ReplyDeleteGreat garlic harvest....which reminds me I need to go out to the shed and check on mine that I harvested 2 weeks ago. About time to bring them to the basement :)
ReplyDeleteI like music and polish garlic. They store well, they're very "garlic-y", and they both have a bit of a spicy kick which mellows out when they're cooked.
ReplyDeleteThey're darn hard to kill too - I transplanted a crop mid-season once, and they still produced reasonably well.
Another vote for music. Not only does it have great flavor, it has this very crunchy texture - like jicama. You don't really notice it when eating, but when you're *chopping* the garlic it's fantastic. Imagine chopping garlic that yielded to the knife - not woody or slick.
ReplyDeleteMusic it is! Now I'll have to find a source for them.
ReplyDeleteNice garlic harvest. Yes Music is one of my favorite garlic, I grew it 2 years ago and I miss not planting them last year and this year.
ReplyDeletewe pulled ours on saturday, they are now cleaned, trimmed, braided and hanging in the woodshed.
ReplyDeletesuch a feeling of satisfaction!
congrats on your fine harvest, too!
How is the taste of your Pskem river garlic. I always have plenty of garlic volunteering in my garden, but the wet spring and early summer must have stunted them this year. Now I have no garlic for the winter. So sad.
ReplyDeletenellie
German Extra Hardy has always been my favorite in growing and cooking. I might just grow that next year. My other variety had too many rot issues.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful harvest! That should definitely last you awhile. I've always grown Early Italian softneck since I can't grow hardnecks well here, but I'm thinking of branching out next year.
ReplyDeleteThere is a garlic grower in KY who sells Music through the mail. It's Blue Moon Farm (http://www.bluemoongarlic.com) I used to buy their garlic when I frequented the Lexington Farmer's Market. They're really, really nice local growers.
ReplyDeleteI grew garlic for the first time, and love growing it! The hardneck variety is awesome, for the scapes alone! I'll have to try some different varieties this year!
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