Garlic, Herb of the Year 2004

By Tom Wajda
Willow Pond Farm Herbs & Everlastings

The International Herb Association and the Herb Society of America have chosen garlic as the herb of the year for 2004. The "Stinking Rose" is both a culinary joy and necessity. It is also an important element in herbal medicine; crafters use garlic in wreaths and other arrangements, and it can be braided into decorative hangings for the kitchen. How popular is garlic? Well, a Google search of the web got 2.4 million hits!

Garlic likes well-amended soil and a fair amount of fertilizer. It is usually planted in October and will grow roots as long as the ground temperature is above 40 degrees. There will be some insignificant stem growth. With the onset of winter, garlic goes into a dormant state until spring when it starts to grow again. In early summer, the stems will start to form little heads (scapes) which should be cut off as energy spent producing them reduces plant energy available for making underground bulbs. (The scapes have a nice, mild garlic flavor and can be used in any dish that calls for garlic.) When the garlic stems begin to dry out - usually in July - it is time to harvest the crop. Dig your bulbs, wash them, trim off the little roots, tie 6-8 bulbs in a bunch, and hang them in a cool dark place to dry for a couple of weeks. Store in a cool, dry place. Enjoy!

Garlic can be grown from bulbs purchased at your local supermarket, but quality seed garlic is preferred and widely available. One of our favorite sources is Johnny's Seeds, 955 Benton Ave., Winslow, ME 04901, on the web at www.johnnyseeds.com.