Poor garlic
Written by: adekun on 8 February, 2009 9:31 pm - Filed under: garden
Despite the bad photo, it's still clear to see how poor one half is. Weeds are good though.
The winter vegetables have been bad this season. After the snow had gone the previous month, it was noticeable how poor the back half of garlic looked. It seems odd as that end was the first to come up and was looking good at the end of last year. It would be nice to think it will come good with a bit of sunshine. Although the garlic, the best from the previous harvest, was a bit of an investment, we haven’t really run short. Looking back at the notes, it is the familiar six piece white variety and the Aomori that are effected; the latter I haven’t had much luck with.
Kevin
10 February, 2009 #
Would the garlic grow under the snow, do you know? I wish we had planted ours, but somehow we just missed the opportunity. It never freezes after a good snow-cover (snow is a great insulator) so we don’t have to worry about that, but the sunlight might be an issue. Just before winter we can plant nozawana, cabbage, carrots and daikon. The problem is that they have to grow to full size before the snow – after snow they don’t die, but they don’t get any bigger. Assuming they are planted early enough before the snow, we can harvest them first thing in the spring to have fresh veggies while our spring vegetables are still growing. I suppose it is the same for garlic…?
adekun
10 February, 2009 #
Had to look up nozawana. Perhaps takana and shungiku are more popular here.
No ideas on the effect of snow. Against what you put, could be the difference in height of the stems that made the difference.
Alongside a lack of compost, it might be that I’m finding the same thing happen. An unexpected cold snap. It happened in May too. There’s always next year. We got given a load of hakusai which is being turned into kimchi.
A.T. Hagan
14 February, 2009 #
We’ve had three hard freezes in my part of Florida so far this year which is making my onions look pretty bad. They probably aren’t going to keep well either.
Alliums will take a certain amount of cold, but there’s a limit it seems. Especially if it’s a sudden and deep freeze.
The original Stoics were all gardeners.
…..Alan.
adekun
14 February, 2009 #
No hard freezes yet. I spoke to the lady in the adjoining plot yesterday. Despite all the tending and extras their onions aren’t much better. They do have a lot less weeds.
The weather is certainly changeable; I spent a couple of days digging, it was really warm.
Finding it’s all to easy to throw in the trowel and think about the next season.
George Africa
24 February, 2009 #
Hello Adekun;
Just found your blog. I was interested in anything from Japan after attending a lecture Sunday. The author was introducing his book on bees and said the book, Fruitless Fall, is becoming popular in Japan. I was interested in the comment and in what’s going on there.
George Africa
adekun
26 February, 2009 #
George, I’m familiar with the story, but not the book or how it affects Japan.
Something I do want to delve into is apiculture. I was fortunate enough to spend a summer in the UK pottering about with some old-timers. It was fantastic. All my garb is here. I guess I’ll have to wait until I can escape the city…