I am consumed with food.  So when I found out our community was starting a monthly newsletter, I knew I had another outlet to talk about food.  However, this corner will not be just from me.  I was asked to contribute for the first one but would like to invite anyone who grows a garden, preserves food, or has a favorite recipe to share in this column too.

– Darrell

In keeping with the season of fall, I would like to let you know it is time to plant your garlic. I favor the hardneck varieties because they grow better here in the north, and start with the largest cloves I have from last year.  (If you don’t have any from last year try your local farm market for varieties that do best in your region.)  I prepare my garden beds by adding a wheel-barrow full of well composted manure per 8 feet of growing space at least 1-2 weeks prior to planting.  Once ready, I push each clove, blunt end down, 1 to 2 inches deep and spaced 4 to 6 inches apart.  After that, I cover them with loose straw to protect from the coldest winds of winter.  Remember each clove becomes a bulb.

image courtesy of Anna Christina

I know my garden is ready for winter when the garlic is in.  Given the lore around uses for garlic it’s easy to remember that planting season starts right around the time the little vampires start trick or treating at my door.
See you in the garden.
Darrell