Tom planted garlic on November 9th of last year, and we have just harvested the first of it called Inchelium Red. This is what the company we buy from, High Mowing Seeds, had to say about this variety:
This widely grown softneck was originally saved by a native population in Washington State and found by Larry Geno on the Colville Indian Reservation.
Softneck means it can be braided, and I am thinking of trying it. I am not naturally "crafty" at all, but I think I will still see if I can do it. I've already found sites that tell me how.
Drying it just where we did many years ago. We got 29 bulbs.
We have two other varieties which aren't quite ready to pick yet - Music, and Chesnok Red.
That's a nice harvest Nan. I bet you can't wait for all the other local produce to be ready to pick. We just bought some delicious local corn, pickling cukes and green beans from the farm up the street -- oh, and fresh blueberries too.
ReplyDeleteI've been buying the local tomatoes, and especially love the heirlooms. We've grown a lot of them, too, but other than a couple, they won't be ready for a while. I have hopes of stewing and freezing them for tomato sauce. We'll see... Just bought some local blueberries today. No corn yet. Can't wait.
DeleteWonderful harvest! Let us know what great things you make with it! I love your recipes. x
ReplyDeleteThank you! I think I've posted a few. Tabouli, pesto, tomato sauce. Pretty much use garlic in everything!
DeleteOur veggie garden is not going brilliantly this year. Partly this is due to a cold June, but also a plague of snails. And now it's fending for itself as Peter has pneumonia again. My efforts are concentrated on keeping him out of hospital as there's a huge problem with ambulance response times and hospital beds being available. And it's not helped by dire warnings on TV about the coming heatwave. Life can be challenging at times but I hope you're keeping well, Nan?
ReplyDeleteOh, Cath, I'm so sorry he is sick. Maybe the cold June wasn't good for him either. Very upsetting about the lack of beds, and ambulances not coming when they should. Awful stuff. Basic, it seems. I'm doing okay mostly. Lots of family stuff, though. Tom's mother has moved to a nearby nursing home, and one of the kids is having a breakup. Too much sometimes, indeed. I've quit instagram, and am trying to get back here - both reading and writing more. It is good for my soul, and peace of mind. Oh, and sorry about the damn snails.
DeleteThanks, Nan. Peter is improving, but it's slow. But any improvement is 'good'. I'm very sorry to hear that one of the kids is having a break-up. Been there, got the T shirt etc. so you have my sympathy. 'Too much' is darn right. I'm on Instagram but don't use it much as I find it tricky, plus I'm not sure what the point of it is. LOL! It's good to see you around a bit more.
DeleteThank you for that last sentence, Cath. It means a lot to me.
DeleteCath, so sorry to hear about Peter having pneumonia, but glad to hear there is some improvement. Last night, I saw your comment at Judith's blog and was worried about you two.
DeleteNot too many weeks ago I was harvesting garlic scapes from daughter's garden. I still have some too in the refridgerator.
ReplyDeleteWe had some scapes from the hardneck varieties a while back. How do you cook them? I've only sautéed them with other vegetables. Sometimes a little tough. My son is going to give me a recipe for garlic scape pesto!
DeleteNan, always good to hear about your garden and what nature is sharing with you. Having read your comment to Cath above, I'm sorry about all the family issues. Sigh. Take care of yourself and I say, do what helps your peace of mind. I think we all have to do that in order to not go bonkers at times. Big hugs your way...
ReplyDeleteThank you my old friend. Hard finding that peace of mind, but am working on it! It has really been five long years. I feel some resolution now, but my reserves aren't what they need to be.
DeleteEchoing Kay's words and sending love. I'm sorry things have been rough in your world. Big hugs to you, Nan. xo
DeleteWow, what a harvest! We've been looking after our friends' allotment while they are away on a long holiday, so we've got the benefit of harvesting without the work (we have been watering it carefully). I've frozen them some red gooseberries and broad beans today so they can benefit from it, too! I definitely think I'm going to put some fruit canes in for next year here, though.
ReplyDeleteMonty talks about broad beans all the time. What are they? Do you eat them as cooked dried beans like black beans or cannellini beans, or are they like what we call "string beans" - yellow or green beans that we eat fresh (boiled) like peas? And gooseberries, I hear about but have never tasted. I don't know where they grow in this giant country. Not here.
DeleteI think broad beans are fava beans. They come in a pod and I eat them straight away or freeze them then eat them fresh or fresh from frozen and boiled like peas. Gooseberries are usually quite tart but these red ones are really sweet, so good.
DeleteThank you!! I have heard of fava beans, and I think I read they can be used in making falafel, which I have never tried but I do love it! And I'd love to try gooseberries.
DeleteNan, I have thought about and read about growing garlic, but never tried actually doing it. Back between about 2004 and 2010 I used to grow vegetables in big pots in our back area, and I read a lot about growing food in pots. I hope to hear more about your garlic growing.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the butterfly weed with butterfly is gorgeous. I planted that plant last year but not in a great spot, maybe I will go see if I can find more and plant them in a sunnier spot.
And now I see that the photo has just changed to a day lily, also gorgeous.
I am trying to change it more often, as I always used to do, just as I am trying to write more, and read more blogs. Oh, the butterfly weed is magic! Mine didn't do well the first year, but is thriving this year. This one is right in full sun.
DeleteThank you for the interest in the garlic. I will try to write when the others are picked, and when I (try to) braid!
Garlic can do so much for almost any dish, can it! Plus it is really healthy!
ReplyDeleteFrom your reply to other comments here I gather all is not well in your family, and I am very sorry to read that. Hopefully, things can be settled without affecting the children too badly. I have no kids of my own, as you know, but I imagine it must be heartbreaking when something goes wrong with any of them, no matter how old they are.
I do love it!
DeleteAnd thank you for your kind words. It's been a tough time. I hope we are beginning to see a faint light at the end of the tunnel, but we'll have to see how it goes. I haven't posted about it, because it really isn't my news to tell, and there is still a lot of legal stuff to consider. But I wanted to give a hint of one of the reasons why I've been quieter than usual these past months (and years, really).
And now I see that you've answered a question I asked in your current post about whether you braid your garlic or not. I'll write down your varieties just in case RH thinks he might plant some this fall. I order fewer and fewer spring bulbs for him to plant in the fall now as his knees are telling their age and mine have long since retired.
ReplyDeleteYup - those darn knees. Tom sits on a crate. Maybe that would work for RH?l
DeleteThat is a lot of garlic! I was wondering if you could sell it but I suppose it can be saved indefinitely for cooking. Not much is growing here due to the drought but I got a professional to put down mulch and the area in front of the house looks a million times better. Unfortunately, I have had some poison ivy issues in my front yard over the last few years. I always wear long sleeves and gloves but I swear I get it every summer.
ReplyDeleteThat's what my granddaughter said - "you could sell this". Ha ha. We'll use it all. I've already broken into it a few times. I walk by the organic garlic in the store now and feel pretty smug. Sorry about the poison ivy.
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