holt@convex.UUCP (04/12/84)
#N:convex:51300001:000:673
convex!holt Apr 12 13:22:00 1984
Just a quick note on an extremely easy to grow, and VERY rewarding plant:
GARLIC
That's right, garlic.
This year I took two garlic bunches and planted each clove seperatly. Boy
do they grow fast! Also, the garlic greens have the same flavor as a garlic
clove. And the greens aren't bitter at all, and replenish themselves very
quickly. In fact, as I weed the garden, I find it very nice to chew on a
little garlic green. YUMM!
So, if you want to try something that won't be eaten by bugs, doesn't have
to be pampered, and produces edible seasonings continuously, try garlic!
Dave Holt
Convex Computer Corp.
{allegra,ihnp4,uiucdcs,ctvax}!convex!holtrockefeller@wagon.DEC (04/17/84)
Yes, Dave Holt is right about garlic. It is very easy to grow, making it very rewarding. I just want to add a couple of things. First, the culture. Garlic MUST (absolutely, positively MUST) be kept well-weeded, as must other plants of its family (onions, leeks, shallots). All have very shallow root systems, and weeds can crowd them out or stunt them all too easily. Weed the garlic and keep it watered (don't let the ground dry out to the point that the leaves droop) and you should get a good crop. Pests don't bother garlic; in fact, it can help keep pests off other plants nearby. I don't have a list of companion plants with me at the moment, but if anyone is interested, I'll post one. Second, planting time. If you live in a relatively short season area as I do (north central Massachusetts), try planting garlic in October. Just buy a head of garlic at the grocery store and separate it into cloves. Plant the cloves shallowly (about a half-inch down) a few inches apart, and that's it until spring. They will start to grow very early in spring, giving them a head start on the weeds. By the time weeds try to take over, the garlic leaves will be large enough to mark the plant's position, making weeding easier. The garlic bulbs will be ready to harvest in late July or August. About eating the garlic leaves - try planting a clove or two in a small flower pot on a window sill. That way, you'll have the leaves to use year 'round as a pot herb for flavoring omelets, stir fried vegetables, and what-have-you. Linda Rockefeller DEC, So. Lawrence, MA (617) 689-6058 ...decvax!decwrl!rhea!wagon!rockefeller
mmr@ritcv.UUCP (Margaret Reek) (04/19/84)
For lovers of garlic there is a garlic chive, which is very easy to grow and should be able to be grown in on the kitchen windowsill. It is winter hardy like a regular chive, and multiplies like crazy. It has a mild garlic flavor to it. Seeds are available from several sources, I think I got mine from Burpee. Margaret Reek ritcv!mmr