ABOUT GARLIC

Elephant Garlic

Published

1 month ago

March 27, 2024

yasir-admin

At right, a clove of Elephant next to a nice-sized clove of regular garlic:

This Big Daddy has the largest bulbs and cloves of them all. It is the king of the roasters. Some Elephant individual cloves are larger than an egg!

Elephant is the mildest of the garlics, and is actually closer to a leek than a garlic. Awesome for stews, roast vegetables and garlic mashed potatoes. Elephant grows well in most parts of the country.

Since the bulbs will probably be larger than typical garlic, plant farther apart with a minimum of 6″ between cloves. Mulching with straw or grass clippings and keeping the soil relatively moist, even during the winter, promotes larger bulbs.

Elephant Bulblets or Bulbils (also incorrectly called korms): This is a fun way to gain some elephant garlic for your garden! Bulbils (aka bulblets) are seed-like growths found at the bottom of many elephant bulbs. They can be left in the ground after harvesting elephant garlic, or can be moved and replanted.

Soaking the bulbils for a few days, and even cutting/scoring a small slit in the bulbil toward the bottom can improve germination rates. The bulblets’ shell is very tough, so a score helps moisture get inside to allow the seed to expand and sprout. The shoots may not emerge until spring or early summer, so don’t forget where you plant them!

Plant the elephant bulbils this year, and expect to harvest “rounds” (large, round bulbs that have not yet formed multiple cloves per bulb) next year…although we have had some multi-clove bulbs form the first year from bulbils. Re-plant the “rounds,” and harvest potentially VERY large bulbs of elephant the following year.

All garlic seed for sale is supplied by our small micro farm in Elgin Oregon – Greifs Gourmet Garlic!

ABOUT GARLIC

HOW TO STORE GARLIC

Published

1 month ago

March 27, 2024

yasir-admin

HOW TO STORE GARLIC

Stored properly, fresh garlic will last for months. Commercially, garlic is stored between 30 and 32 degrees. In most households that is not possible. Here are some other ideas on how to store garlic.

Bundle garlic in bundles of 8 to 12 bulbs by tying the stalks and hanging it, bulb down. Store garlic in a cool, dry place, with plenty of circulation, away from sunlight.
You can purchase a ‘garlic keeper’ or simply store it in a wire basket under a flower pot.
For a homespun display, you can braid softneck garlic stems together, adorned with ribbon and dried flowers, and hang it in your kitchen.

HOW ABOUT DEHYDRATING?

It’s easy and you’ll be amazed at how flavorful fresh garlic powder is compared to commercially purchased garlic powder.

Break the cloves apart.
Cut the root end of the clove (you may also peel the clove, but it is not necessary).
Lay the cloves in a single layer in your dehydrator and dehydrate for 16+ hour depending on your dehydrator and the size of the cloves.
The skins fall right off!
You can store whole cloves or grind them into powder.
Store in an airtight container. OR…
To make garlic salt, mix 3 parts salt and 1 part garlic.

GARLIC IN WINE OR VINEGAR

Peeled garlic cloves can be stored in wine or vinegar and refrigerated.
Garlic can be stored in this manner for about 4 months.
Discard if you see any signs of mold or yeast growth.

REFRIGERATION

While it can be done, refrigeration is not the best way to store your garlic because it changes its texture, flavor, and speeds germination.

FREEZING

Garlic can be stored in the freezer but keep in mind that freezing garlic changes its texture and flavor.
You can freeze entire bulbs and use individual cloves when you need them, OR
Peel, chop, and store in small Ziploc bags. If you fill the bags lightly and freeze them flattened you can break off what you need later.

HOW NOT TO STORE FRESH GARLIC

Never store garlic in oil. Garlic in oil can be kept in the refrigerator for a maximum of 2 weeks. After that, it can develop dangerous bacteria/toxins.
Garlic and oil at room temperature can cause dangerous toxins to form.

PEELING GARLIC

Here are some helpful hints to make peeling your cloves a little easier.
Blanch in boiling water for approximately 20 seconds, then drop into icy cold water. The skins will slip right through your fingers.

Place cloves in a glass of cool water for 30 minutes and the skins will come right off.
Using the old fashioned method, trim off the top and bottom of the clove and roll it between your fingers.
Trim off the bottom of the clove, place flat on your counter or cutting board, pop it with the flat end of a knife.
Purchase a ‘garlic tube’. It’s basically a flat piece of silicone. Wrap the cloves in the tube and roll it on the counter a few times.

All garlic seed for sale is supplied by our small micro-farm in Elgin Oregon – Greif’s Gourmet Garlic!