We harvested the garlic on Saturday. Garlic is funny, not ha-ha funny, but funny in that strange way that you have to figure out when it's time to harvest them. I looked out Saturday morning and noticed that the leaves were definitely turning brown. More than half were splayed out, no longer standing tall and green. It seemed like it might be time. But then again the weather has been WEIRD. Last weekend it was so hot it was absolutely hellish, but by Thursday the temps were down in the 60s during the day and 40s at night. What's a garlic to do?
So, we harvested all the soft-necks and about half the hard-necks. It was obvious when we pulled the bulbs from the ground that some of the cloves had already separated and were past their optimum time, but most were perfectly ready. So we put them in the wheelbarrow and moved them over to the sauna, where we're letting them dry out and perfect their garlic-ness.We still have tomato, pepper, and eggplant to plant that we started from seed. There's already a summery lusciousness about the yard, despite the weird weather. Everyday we go out just waiting to be surprised by something new that's budding, flowering, or fruiting.
It's a summer in the time of climate change.
some of that garlic went into tonight's risotto dinner.
ReplyDeleteI love homegrown garlic. The garden looks like it's doing well!
ReplyDeleteNo problem with vampires I guess. Your garden is looking good.
ReplyDeleteMhhh, there is nothing better than a bit of garlic to get a spicey taste in your mediterean dishes. To bad you smell after it "a bit" otherwise I would eat garlic on a daily basis - that's how much I love it.
ReplyDeleteAnd homegrown is the best!
I have never had really fresh garlic and I would love to try it!
ReplyDeleteSeeing your lovely home, garden and forest photo I thought, "Wow, a dream come true."
ReplyDeleteI remember your long search for a home. That you have found it and that you work hard to make it your own touches my heart this morning.
when to harvest garlic and potatoes has always baffled me. And how nice the sauna can double as a drying room in the summer, when you definitely don't want to be roasting in there yourselves!
ReplyDeleteThis summer's weather has indeed been so strange that even the plants seem confused. Glad your hunch was right.
ReplyDeleteBTW: I totally agree with your comment on today's post. Thanks
Now you make me wonder why I never tried growing garlic. I LOVE it but didn't know it was hard to tell when to harvest.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder of a cool crop.
Oh, man, that is SO California, treating your garlic to the sauna!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful garden!
ReplyDeleteWell, from this vantage point of 55 degrees and raining, the thought of a hit of hot weather is appealing. Reality is, I'd wilt eventually, too, but I'd like a shot at it!
ReplyDeleteSwell produce ya got there.