We tried broiling the garlic sprouts in the oven. It was delicious!

We harvested a few of the biggest sprouts. Some of them needed to have the ground broken before their roots would let go. Once they were pulled out of the ground the outer layers with most of the dirt were peeled away, leaving a very large scallion. The tops and roots were trimmed and any dirt washed off.

Then, the 8-inch scallions were placed in a shallow dish. A couple tablespoons of olive oil were poured over the garlic sprouts. Each sprout was turned in the oil so it was completely covered and then transferred to a foil-covered broiling pan. Black pepper was the only seasoning.

We put the pan under the broiler for only a few minutes and then you could hear the oil was hot. At this point you have to stay close and watch or the garlic will burn to a crisp. Turn the garlic when it browns on one side. Remove the garlic when it gets a little crispy on the other side and serve at once.

Forgot to get a picture this time, but there will be more broiled garlic sprouts to enjoy very soon. Does anybody else out there eat garlic like this? It had a mild flavor and everyone enjoyed it.

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We never had any garlic in the garden until last year. The year before last we were given some bulbs from a friend. He didn’t know what kind they were, but being Italian and a great chef, we took his word that it was some great garlic. He has since remarked that we’ll be mad at him this year because we’ll have garlic all over the garden. He’s not too far off the truth, either!

We planted in about 6 garlic bulbs in the Summer of 2008. Those bulbs matured and we harvested a few. The others were let go over the winter. In the late summer their seed heads fell over and planted many new garlic sets.

The garlic sprouts were thinned out and grew last summer and left to grow and overwinter. Now they’re growing again, and noticeably so! (Photo taken 29Mar2010.)

Garlic plants in the garden, two years old.

I’m looking forward to harvesting that garlic in the weeks ahead!

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Parsley is a biennial plant, one that grows for two years, flowering in the second year. It will overwinter here at Zone 6, but I’m not sure how far north you can go and still get the second year crop. Further north parsley is probably treated as an annual by planting it each year. To protect it over the winter, we pile up leaves all around the parsley plants and perennial herbs.

The first year is pure vegetative growth. The plant will get larger and bushier. When the stems are too long they won’t remain erect and droop out to the sides, making the parsley plant into a large round shape.

Parsley second year right after overwintering.

Second year growth is primarily involved with sending up a flower stalk. Biennials require some sort of winter period of dormancy before they can flower. During the second year you should harvest as early in the year as possible because the plant will put most of its energy into creating the flower stalk, flowers and seeds, not in producing more parsley leaves.

Bolting is the term given to the rapid growth of the flower stalk in the second year. Once the plant has bolted, you might as well find another parsley to transplant. After bolting and setting seed the parsley plant dies.

Harvest any of the parsley as it grows. You can use scissors or just your fingers. The stems are pliable enough to let you just pinch off a piece. Snip off a sprig here and there for garnishes.

Before the flower stalk gets too tall, we usually harvest most of the parsley and put it in freezer bags, as is. Once frozen, you can use scissors to snip off some parsley for your soup or potatoes when ever you need it, and re-freeze the remaining parsley.

This growing season was not a good one for tomatoes, but that just meant that it was time for other plants to shine. Basil, for one, did excellently this year.

If you’re thinking about protecting your plants from the cold, good on ya! Get out that tarp or row cover to shade your beauties from the cold. If the plants are small and few, try a large cardboard box. Just place the box over the plant in the evening and remove it in the morning.

If you’ve got a row of veggies to protect, you’ll want to try a row cover or a light fabric so that many plants can be protected at once. Got an old sheet? That’ll do!

Feel like a little shopping? Check out this All Purpose Garden Fabric:

Garden fabric comes in several sizes, so find one that suits your needs. It’s a great time to shop for fall planting too. Save 15% on orders of $25 or more. While you’re there, check out the garden outlet shop!
Gardener’s Supply Company: Save up to 50% in our Garden Outlet

Composting is a major part of reusing materials. Yes, our mantra reduce, reuse, recycle can be put to work in our gardens. Avoiding the purchase of fertilizers and insecticides is a side benefit of making the best compost. Read on to learn more in this great resource, World’s Best Compost.

Here’s a sneak peek at what you’ll discover in Worlds Best Compost:

• The method of feeding plants in a totally natural way that results in the most tastiest, divine food you and your family will ever have.
• Why do you use much less water in your garden now using colloidal humus compost? (and how you will be saving money and effort and the environment)
• What’s the sheep mentality that almost all agriculture and garden advisors suffer from that costs you time and money on dangerous, toxic gardening and horticulture practices. (and is killing our planet in the process)?
• How to achieve a soil that “feeds itself” so you always get consistent results!

Read more about composting!

Check out this new gardening item I found that lets the apartment dwellers get in on the gardening action – a system for growing tomatoes indoors or out, year round. It’s called the Year-Round Tomato.

Year Round Tomato, the amazing system that lets you grow plump, lush, red tomatoes all year round, all without hassle, dirt, or mess!

Since Year Round Tomato is designed to hang almost anywhere — indoors by a window or in your favorite pot or outdoors on a fence, balcony or even a tree limb — it saves space and you don’t even need a backyard to enjoy backyard gardening.

And, because the Year Round Tomato hanging pouch is so simple to move around, you can even grow tomatoes in extremely cold or very hot weather simply by bringing it inside, for only $19.99 plus $6.99 shipping and handling!

Grow fresh greens, cherry tomatoes and herbs right in your own kitchen with the world’s first kitchen garden appliance! No soil is required: Just add pre-seeded grow pods, nutrient tablets and water — no green thumb needed! AeroGarden does the rest, automatically providing optimal light and signaling when to add more water or nutrients. Within 21 days you’ll have a fresh crop of salads ready for continual harvests for months!

Nothing is fresher, safer and healthier than food you grow yourself.

Take advantage of this limited time offer and try AeroGarden FREE for 30 Days.

Grow your plants with no dirt, no mess, no fuss and no green thumb needed!

Our purpose is to scour the Web looking for the best deals in gardening tools, seeds and plants, and all things that let you enjoy the fruits of your time in the gardens.

Be they vegetable gardens or flower beds, you’ll find plenty of steals and deals to take advantage of here at usethathherb.com — we’ll have fun along the way, too!

Join us in getting ready for this year’s planting season coming up very soon.

Lots more later!

Your friend in the dirt,

Lizzie Lou