Garlic go through several stage of growing , each with its own alone characteristic and requisite . Understanding these stages is essential for successful garlic cultivation . allow ’s research each leg in item :
1 . Germination : Garlic is typically plant in the dusk or early spring , depend on the climate . After planting , the garlic clove want a period of cold stratification to bump dormancy and stimulate growth . During this stage , the cloves develop root and shoots , ready to emerge from the soil .
2 . Green Garlic : As the shoot emerge from the soil , they develop into light-green garlic . At this point , the leaves are raw and can be used as a delicious improver to salad or cooked dish antenna . Green garlic is harvested before it forms a bulb , usually when the leaves are about six column inch improbable . It leave a milder garlic tang liken to mature bulbs .
3 . Scapes : The next degree in garlic growth is the formation of scapes . scape are the curly flower stalks that emerge from the center of the garlic plant . It is crucial to remove these scapes to redirect the flora ’s energy towards bulb development . Scapes are also a culinary delectation , with a delicate garlic flavor . They can be used in stir - fries , pesto , or pickled .
4 . Young Bulbs : As the works continues to grow , it forms young bulb or bulbil . These are small , unexploited bulbs that form at the nucleotide of the plant . While they are comestible and can be used in cooking , they are not as flavorful or long - lasting as mature bulbs . Some gardeners choose to harvest young medulla to make way for the main crop , while others go out them to develop into ripe bulbs .
5 . Mature Bulbs : The main goal of garlic cultivation is to produce mature light bulb – the expectant , flavorsome bulbs that we usually associate with ail . The plants need time to develop these bulbs amply . As the leaves begin to turn over yellow and dry , it is a mark that the Allium sativum is nearing maturity . harvest home at the right time is crucial to assure optimal bulb size and flavor . Once harvest , garlic bulb postulate to be cured by hang them in a dry , well - vent orbit for several weeks to raise their ledge life .
6 . Flowering degree : If Allium sativum is left in the ground for too long , it may go in the flowering point . anthesis can negatively impact the medulla ’s size of it and flavor , as the plant redirects its push towards producing flower and seed . It is urge to harvest garlic before it reaches this phase , but if flowering does come , the blossom stalks can be cut and used as ornamental or in flowered arrangements .
In my personal experience , I have found that paying attention to each stage of garlic growth is all-important for a successful harvest . From selecting the right cloves for institute to properly timing the harvest home , every measure playact a role in the final outcome . to boot , experimenting with different garlic varieties can append excitement and diverseness to your garden and culinary creations .
To summarize , the stages of garlic growth include germination , gullible garlic , scape , vernal bulb , ripe bulbs , and the flowering point . Each stage has its own unequaled characteristics and uses , progress to garlic cultivation an exciting and rewarding effort .
Caroline Bates