This garlic came from Faye, via Georgia. You know it’s potent!
Ever grown garlic? This is my first time. Supposedly, garlic is one of the oldest cultivated plants. It’s a lifeform all to itself that divides and clones mini-me’s and consumes itself in the process.
Sounds a little scary, doesn’t it?
I think this is the most exciting plant I’m putting in our garden this year. You putting anything new and exciting in your garden? Something you haven’t tried before? And will it ward off vampires? (You never know when this could be important!!)
Heidi says:
YEARS AGO!! I tried Egyptian onions – didnt work. :wall: Are you going to be planting potatos/or tomatos in this kiddy wampas side hill garden? LOL If you need some extra manure – I can ship you a couple of buckets from the cow pens – that is some GOOOOOOOOOOOD stuff for gardens, not for kitchen floors, but gardens. :bananadance: What variety of garlic is that?
On April 12, 2008 at 8:00 am
Lora says:
Last year I tried white pumpkins. Don’t remember what they are called at the moment. They took forever to germinate, but it was worth the wait. What variety is that garlic?
On April 12, 2008 at 8:14 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
It’s hand-me-down garlic, so I’m not sure what variety it is.
I don’t think we’ll do potatoes until we do a big garden in the meadow, hopefully next year. We’ll do tomatoes, peppers, asparagus, herbs, garlic, green beans, stuff like that up here in the smaller garden. Potatoes, corn, etc, in the big garden.
On April 12, 2008 at 8:17 am
Treasia says:
No garden for us this year. We still aren’t sure if we will be able to keep our home yet. Maybe someday again we can.
On April 12, 2008 at 8:26 am
Tipper says:
Don’t like vampires but love love garlic. Mine is already growing well this year-I’m farther South than you but not as far as Georgia. I loved the dog/swim post. That water had to be cold-Princess must be tough!
On April 12, 2008 at 8:28 am
Hillbilly2 says:
I planted birdhouse gourds one year, they turned out great! I have them hanging all over the farm.
On April 12, 2008 at 8:35 am
Heidi says:
We got 4.5 inchs of SNOW last night and this morning – so my garden is going to be LATE LATE LATE!!!!! 🙂 I fell in love with your birthday present from 52 – it looks PERFECT on the porch – what is your favorit color? I would LOVE To make you a throw blanket for the cool nights in the spring and fall – just let me know!!! :hug:
On April 12, 2008 at 8:42 am
margie says:
thats a nice swing! happy birthday!
margiesbooboo
On April 12, 2008 at 9:37 am
sc says:
I mostly plant traditional veggies, cucumber, beets, sweet pumpkins, zuchini, tomatoes, peppers, onion, peas, beans and herbs. Last year the carrots gave me trouble, and the chickens devoured my lettuce. I tried celery once, it didn’t work, and okra. I love okra, so I am determined to get it to grow in our northern garden. I really like the gourd idea. I will have to try that too this year.
We have a huge row of asparagus that was planted before we moved here. They make me soooo happy! Our season is short, but very sweet. We also have an old rhubarb patch, which I adore. There is nothing more successful and yummy than hand-me-down plants. I have been dividing and propagating the rhubarb, so we don’t loose these genetics. They are hardy and very tasty.
Last year the kids discovered the garden and had a great time planting their own….I am hoping they do the same this year. They had some great crops!
The swing is beautiful!!! Did 52 make it?
Cheers!!
On April 12, 2008 at 9:47 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
No, he didn’t make it, it came from the little store in town. And Faye sold it to him. It’s always a small world here!
:woof:
On April 12, 2008 at 10:03 am
Pam says:
Hi! Love your site!! 🙂 I am starting a little vegetable stand by my house this year, so I am trying a lot of new things (once the Wisconsin snow finally melts). One of the more unusual things I’m trying is asparagus beans. They are supposed to reach about 18″ long and have a butternut flavor to them. I’d never seen them around here, never even heard of them before!! I hope your garlic grows well. That is one thing that I’ve never had any success with yet. 🙂
On April 12, 2008 at 11:20 am
Tori Lennox says:
Why do I have this sudden urge to write a story about vampires in West Virginia…? 😆
Love your birthday present!!!
On April 12, 2008 at 12:27 pm
Mary Beth says:
Actually, if you’re trying to ward off vampires, garlic might not be the best way to do it. But garlic is awesome anyway.
And anyway, your chances of vampires in West Virginia are probably pretty low. (Unless West Virginia = Transylvania in terms of isolation and thunderstorms?)
On April 12, 2008 at 12:32 pm
Tresha says:
I am trying all new kinds of sqaush, butternut, spaghetti, and someother kind is out there along with the traditional crookneck….Gardens are so fun and really make you feel like you have accomplished something big! I GREW FOOD!!!
TREHSA
On April 12, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Renna says:
Garlic has it’s own natural antibiotic and is very healthy for you. I’m not so sure it’s something magical about garlic that keeps vampires away as much as the bad breath of the eater. :shocked:
On April 12, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Katharina says:
I grow garlic every year. I plant it in the fall-Sept. or Oct. It begins to sprout before the snow falls. It grows quickly then when the ground thaws and you get great bulbs to be harvested when the tops begin to brown-usually by July. I get a bumper harvest this way and plant the largest cloves each Sept. Enjoy!
On April 12, 2008 at 1:46 pm
Estella says:
I’ve grown garlic before. I prefer it over purchasrd bulbs.
On April 12, 2008 at 2:55 pm
Brandy says:
Just keep the kitties away from it. Garlic and Onion are both from the lily family which is posionious to cats.
Have fun planting!
On April 12, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Kim A. says:
Ditto, Brandy, re. garlic and onions (and varieties of lilies) being toxic to cats.
As long as 52 likes garlic also, you’ll be all set. 😆
-Kim
On April 12, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Lis says:
Mmm yummy!! I never knew you could plant garlic.
I’ve got some seeds for a tomato plant that’s supposed to get six-eight feet tall with pink tomatoes that can get up to a pound a piece. Want to see how it does.
On April 12, 2008 at 4:01 pm
Skip says:
Thats a good idea. I don’t much like garlic, But I don’t much like vampires eather. But I like it.
On April 12, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Doris says:
We have grown elephant garlic for years. It makes very large cloves and runs out a thin root that makes a toe shape at the end. These are called elephant toes. When you pull the main garlic stalk up to harvest, the toes break off and remain in the ground to come up the following year. I used to pull up garlic, let it dry in the sun on a screen wire, then put the cloves in panty hose and hang them in the utility room till needed. Well, it was actually knee high stockings. They are great for storing onions also. Never throw them away, they have a million uses on a farm !I wish you much luck with your gardening. We tried asparagus, but it did not grow well here. It took several years to get a start from the roots and I think then you are not supposed to cut it for 2 years. Hard to wait that long and then it did not produce many shoots at a tine.Took 2 weeks to get a small handfull ! lol I wanted to can some in pint jars and could not get enough to make it worth heating up the pressure canner.I have noticed that almost noone raises it around here. I think I know why now.
On April 12, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Fran says:
Love reading you every day! Am passionate about garlic – haven’t met a vampire yet – but don’t have a garden. Wish I lived near you so that I could run up the road and beg you to share. I would promise to bring you something chocolate in return!
That 52 is a keeper – how could you not love a man who would give you such a beautiful gift?!
On April 13, 2008 at 12:07 am
catslady says:
I thought it was a bit early since we’re suppose to get snow flurries but I was told to plant my onions – I grew them for the first time last year and we loved them – I grew them in 4 huge planters. And my ferals weren’t interested at all :catmeow:
On April 13, 2008 at 12:58 am
catslady says:
Oh I meant to say how beautiful the swing is – hope you had a wonderful day!
On April 13, 2008 at 12:59 am
Robbyn says:
My husband likes garlic so well, I keep a shaker of garlic powder with the salt and pepper shakers on the table, mmmm!
We love your blog and are really sorry it’s taken us so long to add you to our blogroll…we did in a recent post at our site; hope that’s ok!
On April 13, 2008 at 3:07 am
Rita says:
Suzanne,
I feel like I know you as I read your blogs on a daily basis and enjoy your children and the changes in your life. I looked for your book at Barnes and Nobles yesterday but they were out. I’ll find is soon I’m sure. I want to ask a personal question and I know you may not be able to answer it. I am divorced too and I’ve just been curious as to how you have been able to do all that you do financially? I’m not setting to bad but still I would love to do what you are doing enjoy life by being able to do more at home and not work away from home so much of the time. Thank you for the enjoyment I get from your blog each day.
Rita
On April 13, 2008 at 8:42 am
Lora says:
Forgot to say Happy Birthday! And love the swing. 52 is a darling. What did your kids do for your birthday?
On April 13, 2008 at 8:59 am
Suzanne McMinn says:
Hi, Rita! Well, after I won the lottery, it was no problem. I’m just kidding! LOL. I’ve been a writer for a long time, so I’ve always worked at home. I’ve also had a lot of help!
On April 13, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Amy Addison says:
I love growing garlic. And once I learned to stop watering at a certain point, it actually worked!
This year, we’re trying sweet potatoes for our new vegetable.
On April 14, 2008 at 1:38 am
Elf says:
Hi Suzanne,
Wow, you’re website is great! I’ve been busy worring about my daughter, she’s going or gone to Washington D.C. today it seems i’m the only parent who’s not going(didn’t have the money at the time of sign up(August last year), plus another long story) anyways like i said your website is awesome, always wanted to move to Arizona to do the same(with the kids) but not into much canning guess i watched too much of it growing up so this is why wanted to move to AZ everything fresh (so to speak),but stuck still in Wisconsin. Today, is not only the day my baby girl goes to Washington D.C. it’s also Bailey’s birthday(1 year today), she’s still a puppy in everyway though. Still wines and crys about everyhthing guess Chichuasas?do that b/4 her we always had Labs(like u’rs or Shelties)must be the inferior complex. Well, just wanted to say how great your website and thanks to Jane for it too. Take Care. E.
On April 14, 2008 at 1:04 pm