All gardeners know that garlic has a long shelf life. But for this you need to know what optimal conditions should be created for this.
When to harvest garlic
So that the garlic is stored for a long time and does not deteriorate, it is very important to collect it from the garden in time. These terms directly depend on your region of residence and on the variety of the planted crop. I want to note that winter garlic can be harvested at the end of July, and spring garlic at the end of August. The main signs that the garlic is ripe are:
- yellowed leaves and stem;
- the presence of dense scales on the head;
- easy removal of the film from the teeth.
It is very important not to over-ripen the garlic. Otherwise, it will start its growth anew, its teeth will darken and begin to crack.
Garlic is harvested in dry and calm weather. I recommend digging it out carefully so as not to damage the heads. Then the harvested crop is dried, the stems and roots are cut off, and it is sent to storage in the cellar or on the balcony.
Rules for storing garlic in winter
I always store garlic harvested for the winter in a dry and well-ventilated room (cellar, basement). It is also allowed to store it on an insulated balcony or loggia. You can fold the crop in cardboard boxes or simply braid it from dry stems and hang it from the ceiling. As for the temperature regime, I store the garlic at +4 degrees above zero.
Popular storage methods
Many summer residents store garlic in different ways: some put it in boxes and hide it in the cellar, others weave braids from the stalks and hang the harvest on the balcony. And there are people who put this spice in the banks. Each individual option has its own advantages
Storing garlic in a cellar
Since there is always high humidity in the cellar, and for storing garlic this figure should not exceed 60-70%, proper ventilation should be thought out in the room. You can store the crop in boxes into which sawdust or sand is poured. I always check the heads regularly for rot.
In fridge
Also, with a small harvest, you can put the heads of garlic in the refrigerator. Then it will retain its taste and nutrients for 4 months. But this option is only suitable for winter varieties.
On the balcony, loggia
I find garlic to be stored well in a warm balcony. The main thing is that the air temperature there does not fall below 0 degrees. Also, the crop must be protected from direct sunlight. I recommend putting the heads themselves in boxes, bags or cans.
wound garlic in jars
Some city dwellers keep this culture in glass jars. Here it is important to properly prepare the container: rinse, re-release. The heads themselves are folded into cans unpeeled. To prevent the garlic from drying out, the jars should be placed in the refrigerator or on the balcony.
In vegetable oil
Also an interesting option for storing garlic in vegetable oil. To do this, the crop is cleaned, washed, folded in banks and filled with vegetable oil. Then the jar is closed with a lid and placed in the refrigerator. Thus, you can store the harvested crop for several weeks, but no more.
In sawdust
This is an old and garden-proven method. The heads cleaned from the ground and dried are placed in a box and covered with sawdust. The boxes themselves can be placed both in the basement and on the balcony. If all conditions are met, the garlic will remain in this form for up to six months.
In salt
It is also an interesting option when the bulbs are sprinkled with salt in boxes or jars. Salt takes away excess moisture, protects the crop from drying out, and prevents rot. But the salt needs to be changed every few months.
Which varieties of garlic last the longest
As I noted earlier, the collection of garlic, as well as its shelf life, directly depends on the selected variety. Best of all, in my personal experience, the following varieties are stored:
- Hermann;
- Replicant;
- Reliable;
- Gulliver;
- Abrek.
What problems can you face when storing garlic
Even if you have tried to create ideal conditions for storing garlic, sometimes the following problems may occur:
- drying. This is due to non-compliance with the temperature regime;
- the appearance of rot. This is due to poor ventilation and high humidity;
- germination. Occurs from direct sunlight.
I hope I have been able to explain in detail how to properly store garlic in different ways. If you do everything right, you can not only preserve the taste of the harvested culture for many months, but also its beneficial substances.
Read also: Let's figure out whether it is worth leaving the polycarbonate greenhouse open in winter or not.
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