Can you use garlic from the grocery store to plant in the garden?
Dont laugh...the sites I was on wasnt specific and I knew you guys would know :o
Thanks!
Dont laugh...the sites I was on wasnt specific and I knew you guys would know :o
Thanks!
The answer is: Yes you can.
The new question is: Why would you want to?
90% of the garlic sold in markets is California White (either California Early or California Late), marketed by the great garlic coop at Gilroy, California. It is, arguably, the worst of the 559 named garlic varieties.
The exception is the artichoke-type you sometimes find, which is imported from Peru. That's a better tasting garlic that the California White. But there are others much better.
Either way, however, garlic is so cheap in the markets there is no reason to grow those types on your own.
If you order so-called "gourmet" garlic, from places like Garlic Smith, Bluemoon Farm (right here in Kentucky, btw), and Fileree Farms it initially seems expensive. Up to $15/lb. But garlic's return on investment is so high that the initial purchase price seems irrelevent.
I once analyzed the return for somebody. If you assume 100% growth (not unusual with garlic) and replanting 100% of the bulbs you produce, then by the third year the cost per bulb runs something like .009 cents.
Anyway, the down side is that most people place their orders in the spring, for fall delivery. If you first order now it's possible that the varieties you want may not be available.
FWIW, I'm giving a presentation on garlic growing at the Laurel Cty. Library next week. If you can make it, it will start at 5:30 on the 11th.
The new question is: Why would you want to?
90% of the garlic sold in markets is California White (either California Early or California Late), marketed by the great garlic coop at Gilroy, California. It is, arguably, the worst of the 559 named garlic varieties.
The exception is the artichoke-type you sometimes find, which is imported from Peru. That's a better tasting garlic that the California White. But there are others much better.
Either way, however, garlic is so cheap in the markets there is no reason to grow those types on your own.
If you order so-called "gourmet" garlic, from places like Garlic Smith, Bluemoon Farm (right here in Kentucky, btw), and Fileree Farms it initially seems expensive. Up to $15/lb. But garlic's return on investment is so high that the initial purchase price seems irrelevent.
I once analyzed the return for somebody. If you assume 100% growth (not unusual with garlic) and replanting 100% of the bulbs you produce, then by the third year the cost per bulb runs something like .009 cents.
Anyway, the down side is that most people place their orders in the spring, for fall delivery. If you first order now it's possible that the varieties you want may not be available.
FWIW, I'm giving a presentation on garlic growing at the Laurel Cty. Library next week. If you can make it, it will start at 5:30 on the 11th.
Jon's Dad has started eating more garlic and wants to grow it in his garden.
Its not a matter of cost it is a matter of finding it at all and getting some that is fresh.
Last two times I bought it here in town it was so old my knife literally bounced off of it when I tried to peel it. Our Thai friend gave me some elephant garlic. I think Ill give that to him to use along with what ever he wants to grow.
Thanks for the help Brook. We appreciate it.
Its not a matter of cost it is a matter of finding it at all and getting some that is fresh.
Last two times I bought it here in town it was so old my knife literally bounced off of it when I tried to peel it. Our Thai friend gave me some elephant garlic. I think Ill give that to him to use along with what ever he wants to grow.
Thanks for the help Brook. We appreciate it.
You know that Elephant Garlic is not really garlic?
It's a bulbing leek, and has a very mild garlic flavor. You grow it the same way as garlic, or any other fall-planted allium.
I hope you didn't interpret what I wrote as that you shouldn't grow garlic. Far from it. I was suggesting you get varieties other than the California White.
Probably the number one general purpose garlic (and one that makes the very best roast garlic) is Shvelisi. Most of the time you'll find it marketed as Chesnook Red. It's got a lot of garlic flavor, but relatively little heat, and none of the bitterness you often find in California White. Most suppliers carry it.
At the Bluegrass Farmers Market there's a vendor from down Casey Cty. way who was selling "Blue Garlic." I'd never heard that name before. What he had was one of the best-tasting purple striped types I've ever tried, and I'm trying to talk him out of a few cured heads to use as seed stock.
Do you need culturing instructions?
It's a bulbing leek, and has a very mild garlic flavor. You grow it the same way as garlic, or any other fall-planted allium.
I hope you didn't interpret what I wrote as that you shouldn't grow garlic. Far from it. I was suggesting you get varieties other than the California White.
Probably the number one general purpose garlic (and one that makes the very best roast garlic) is Shvelisi. Most of the time you'll find it marketed as Chesnook Red. It's got a lot of garlic flavor, but relatively little heat, and none of the bitterness you often find in California White. Most suppliers carry it.
At the Bluegrass Farmers Market there's a vendor from down Casey Cty. way who was selling "Blue Garlic." I'd never heard that name before. What he had was one of the best-tasting purple striped types I've ever tried, and I'm trying to talk him out of a few cured heads to use as seed stock.
Do you need culturing instructions?