Growing and Cultivating Garlic

Garlic (lat. Allium sativum), also known as culinary garlic, belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family (lat. Amaryllidaceae) of plants. Garlic is known almost worldwide. However, its original homeland is Mongolia and the Kyrgyz steppes, from where it spread very early to China and further around the world.

The healing properties of garlic were known as far back as ancient Greece and Rome. It was eaten mainly by soldiers on military campaigns. Today, garlic is a popular spice with wide-ranging uses.

Soil Preparation for Garlic

Growing garlic requires some experience or at least adequate theoretical preparation. Sometimes even experienced growers find that the garlic harvest is very small, while other times it's a "good year" for garlic and almost everyone gets plenty. The foundation for a good harvest is preparing suitable soil. Garlic likes nutrient-rich soils but doesn't tolerate direct fertilization with barn manure. It's therefore best grown in the second crop rotation (second season after manure fertilization). Violating this principle usually results in stunted plants and thus almost no harvest.

The best way to enrich the soil with necessary nutrients is to dig finely chopped grass and compost into medium-heavy, loamy soil. The most suitable predecessor crop in the bed before garlic is beans or peas. After these, you don't need to fertilize the soil even with grass. These legumes have sufficiently enriched the soil with nitrogen compounds that improve soil condition. Never plant garlic in waterlogged soils, as it would be attacked by fungi of the Fusarium genus.

Soak Garlic Cloves Before Planting

Soaking is another very important step toward a successful harvest. Soaking prevents plant infestation by stem nematodes and root-knot nematodes. Garlic cloves can be soaked even earlier than just before planting; soaking in early September has proven effective. Soaked garlic cloves must be dried within 12 hours and stored in a dry and well-ventilated place. Garlic soaking is done with SULKA preparation at a concentration of 5%. Garlic cloves are soaked for approximately 2-3 hours, but no longer than overnight, as this could cause burning. The soaking solution can only be used once. Just before planting, dried garlic cloves are immersed in water for about 1 hour, and after drying, they should be placed in the soil as soon as possible.

Planting Garlic

For planting garlic, it's good to select the largest possible cloves, because a direct proportion applies – the larger the cloves, the larger the harvest. Only undamaged and disease-free cloves should be planted. The planting date is determined by soil temperature – it should permanently drop below 9°C. Low soil temperature protects the cloves from fusarium infection. Garlic planting spacing depends on the specific variety; most commonly, spacing of around 10 x 20-30 cm is used.

Growing Garlic

Garlic planted in properly fertilized soil does not require any special fertilization during the growing season. Garlic's water requirements are not very high, but it needs more water mainly from mid-May to mid-June. If it is too dry after planting garlic, it is advisable to water it thoroughly. An important moment in cultivation is the timely removal of the flower stem with bulbils. However, remember to leave a few of them to help you better determine the current ripeness of garlic bulbs.

Flower stems are a very simple aid for determining ripeness – when they are completely upright, the garlic is ready to harvest. Ripe garlic is pulled from the soil and left to dry thoroughly in an airy place. Do not cut the tops of harvested garlic, as they will later be used for braiding.

You can either store dried garlic in braided plaits or cut the tops about 5 cm above the bulb and carefully trim the roots. Store garlic in a dry and cool location, where it will remain in good condition for a very long time.

Garlic Can Also Be Grown from Bulbils

Garlic is not only grown from cloves, but it can also be grown from bulbils, which are vegetative propagation organs. Bulbils form from the inflorescence of hardneck garlic. The number and size of bulbils depend on the variety. Some varieties produce only a few large bulbils, while others create many small bulbils.

Bulbils are sown in spring or autumn. Bulbils planted in spring usually produce only undivided bulbs, while autumn sowing can be expected to yield both divided and undivided bulbs, with some even producing a flower stem, which, as with growing from cloves, is removed very early. Bulbils are planted at a depth of about 3 cm. Garlic grown from bulbils requires regular weeding and soil loosening. Harvesting is carried out when the tops turn yellow but are not yet completely dried. Harvested garlic is dried in an airy place.

Czech Garlic is the Best

The quality of genuine Czech garlic is increasingly valued. In the past, it was often displaced by garlic from China, which is much cheaper. Today, the situation has improved significantly, and people have again begun to prefer garlic quality over price. The taste properties of Czech garlic are completely different from its Chinese competitor. Thanks to its exceptional quality, Czech garlic is a highly sought-after and expensive commodity. If you have the opportunity, grow your own Czech garlic.

Czech garlic has a more distinctive taste, which it can impart to dishes in which it is used.

Garlic for Your Health

The healing properties of garlic have been known since time immemorial. Garlic contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. The vitamins include primarily B1, B2, B6, C, and A. Minerals are represented by calcium, iron, magnesium, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, iodine, and many others.

Garlic is even one of the most effective natural antibiotics thanks to its content of Allicin, which acts on a wide spectrum of microorganisms, viruses, and bacteria. Garlic can help treat respiratory diseases such as flu, tonsillitis, and colds. Garlic stimulates sweating, supports respiratory tract cleansing, and improves expectoration.

Beneficial effects of garlic have also been observed on blood circulation. Consuming garlic can lower blood cholesterol levels and fight against arteriosclerosis and hardening of the arteries. Garlic thins the blood and can dissolve blood clots. By purifying the blood, its flow improves, which also reduces high blood pressure.

A noteworthy fact is that thanks to improved vascular patency, there is increased blood flow to male reproductive organs – garlic is therefore considered an elixir for male potency. Another area where garlic helps is the digestive system. The natural antibiotic contained in garlic kills harmful microorganisms throughout the digestive tract. In reasonable doses, it can also be used by people who need to support bile production and improve digestion.

Garlic can also be used by diabetics, as it helps flush excess sugars from the blood. Medical studies have even proven that regular garlic consumption can significantly reduce the risk of certain types of cancer – especially of the stomach, intestines, and prostate. Garlic can also be used for external treatment. Compresses containing garlic are applied to skin affected by fungus or cold sores.