Garlic: how to grow it at no cost by planting supermarket wedges

Garlic is an ingredient present in all kitchens, do you know that you can easily grow it in the garden or on the balcony using the wedges of the supermarket? Let's see together how

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L'garlic, technically said Allium sativum it is used and appreciated in all cultures, and is therefore essential to have both in the pantry and in your garden. In addition to a versatile culinary use, this resistant and productive plant has excellent benefits both for our health and for the garden itself in which it is planted. (Read also: How, when and why to plant garlic in the garden)

If you notice a small green sprout on the garlic clove you bought and left in the pantry for too long, don't throw it away. This plant can be grown at no cost planting the garlic cloves from the supermarket, which at the end of the summer will turn into a head made up of many cloves. (Read also: 10 vegetables to buy one fly and grow forever)

Index

How to grow it

Which garlic is best suited for growing?

It is essential to know which type of garlic to buy, since not all of them will guarantee the growth of other bulbs, in fact, treated garlic cannot be grown because it will not sprout, as it has been previously treated with chemicals or pesticides. Ideally, you should make sure you buy organically grown garlic bulbs, even if often the wording "organic" that we find on the labels of supermarket garlic is not enough to guarantee the real genuineness of the product.

Propagation from bulbs (garlic heads)

The ideal time to grow garlic is autumn, however in milder climates it is also possible to plant it in late winter until early spring. Growing garlic purchased at the grocery store is a practical and sustainable way to obtain fresh bulbs to use for your culinary preparations, moreover there is no need for a large garden, even a large pot will suffice.

Growing garlic plants requires preparing small trenches of soil to which compost is added to enrich the soil and improve drainage. Mix the soil with a layer of at least 5 cm of compost, in the case of acidic soil, add a light layer of wood ash to the compost. A single garlic bulb can produce up to 8 plants. Make sure to separate the wedges well, so that the white coating film is intact.

The bulbs must be buried in rows at least 15 cm apart, at a depth of 2-3 cm, spaced at least 10 cm from each other. Finally, place each clove with the pointed tip facing up and cover the trenches with the enriched soil. Protect the surface with several inches of mulch, such as straw and dry leaves.

If your area where you plant garlic is prone to freezing, cover the garlic bed with some mulch to protect it from the harsh cold, but be careful to remove the mulch when the temperatures have gotten warmer. Keep the soil constantly hydrated by watering it constantly.

Fertilization

If your garlic plants go limp while growing, there may be problems with a lack of essential nutrients in the soil, such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Since garlic takes a long time to grow and develop, it needs a lot of nourishment and for this reason it is advisable to know how to fertilize the plants from the beginning: if you plant it in the fall, it is better to fertilize it in the spring, then continue every three , four weeks.

How to store harvested garlic

Towards the end of June you can start checking your bulbs, picking one and cutting it in half to check how ripe it is. Plants can be harvested when at least one third of the leaves appear pale and dry, then quietly cut the flower stems at the base if you notice them starting to grow. Once harvested, store the garlic heads in a shady, dry and airy place for at least a week. Avoid direct exposure to the sun and rain.

Garlic can be stored for months in a cool, dark place. Cold temperatures promote sprout growth, so don't store them in the refrigerator.

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