How to Pickle Garlic

How to Treat Garlic

Czech garlic almost became a scarce commodity. Watery, tasteless garlic flooded stores, but now gardeners are returning to growing Czech garlic (Czech quality in the garden bed). Growing garlic is not difficult. We'll advise you on how to treat garlic so that the planting material is healthy and garlic growth continues as it should. Garlic (lat. Allium sativum) - is a plant that thrives in sunny beds, loamy-sandy soil with plenty of nutrients and an airy location. The key to success is to always use healthy planting material. If we buy certified planting material, we always require certification. Without a certificate, it may happen that we just buy overpriced culinary garlic. Cloves intended for planting should be treated against fungal diseases. If we suspect the planting material is infested with nematodes, we do not plant the garlic, even after treatment, but destroy it. Czech garlic should be planted in the same bed after 4-5 years. In smaller gardens, this is not always possible. If the garlic is healthy, there is nothing to worry about, but if white rot has affected the garlic, do not plant garlic in the same place for 8-10 years.

Before planting, dig the soil well to a greater depth and let it settle for at least a week. If there are diseases in the soil, lime the soil.

Treating Garlic

Opinions differ on treating garlic and its application and planting, but one thing remains the same. We treat garlic during the growing season and during storage. Treatment has a positive effect on increasing yield and the health status of garlic. In this way, we especially protect garlic from fungi Fusarium spp., Botrytis spp., Penicillium spp., Sclerotium cepivorum, and possibly also Helminthosporium allii.

Procedure for treating garlic 1.

We separate healthy undamaged cloves from each other and immediately soak them in the prepared suspension for 20 minutes and then plant immediately. For treatment we can use these products: Rovral Aquaflo Sulka. If we prepare a treating solution, we use it immediately, we do not store it and do not use it the next day or later.

Procedure for treating garlic 2.

We do not treat garlic directly before planting. We treat the garlic cloves in Sulka solution already in September for about 6-12 hours. Then we let them dry for about 12 hours in an airy place. We do not use the suspension twice in a row.

Then we plant the cloves. We always plant only healthy cloves. We recommend not planting garlic exactly in September, but waiting until the temperature is permanently below 9°C or around October 15th, at the latest by the end of October. The soil will then be safe from fungal diseases. A later date than September will guarantee us larger bulbs at harvest. In spring, monitor the temperature and plant when it's about 10°C for 3 days in March, when the soil is thawing. Opinions on the planting date vary. Try proven methods and you will see what works for you.

Plant the treated cloves by pressing them with your finger to a depth of 5-8 cm. Plant the cloves with the rounded side facing the direction of the row. Space them 10 centimeters apart in the row. Rows should be 35 cm apart from each other.

Are you wondering what happens if you don't treat the garlic? If it's being planted for the very first time in a bed where garlic has never been grown before, it may sprout. However, if garlic has already been grown in the beds, definitely treat it and don't risk rotting of the crop and wasting your work.

Health Benefits of Garlic

Healthy garlic is truly a great health asset in our diet. There are those who eat one garlic clove daily for immunity. And they're doing the right thing. Garlic is a folk remedy, but also a recognized food supplement. It's a rich source of vitamins A, B, and C. It contains selenium, calcium, and iodine. It increases the body's defenses and supports digestion. It lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels in the blood. It benefits the heart and cleanses blood vessels. It also helps against bloating and hardening of the arteries. It destroys parasites in the intestines. In combination with honey, it's used for colds and flu.

Its use in the kitchen is versatile, from typical Czech cuisine to light salads and dressings of Mediterranean cuisine. It's widely used in Asian dishes and is a foundation of French cuisine. We add garlic to marinades for grilled meats, potatoes, sauces, soups, potato pancakes, and spreads. You won't ruin any dish by adding garlic. Dried garlic can be used as a seasoning. Preserved in olive oil, it makes a delicious treat.

Do you know how to make garlic sauce, for example for roasted rabbit? Try this quick and tasty one: make a roux with butter and flour, add a cup of salted water, then add 6 garlic cloves or more to taste, bring quickly to a boil so the garlic doesn't overcook. Then add cream with flour (the sauce will be beautifully white), or light ready-made gravy and you're done. Serve with boiled potatoes.