Garlic Sprouts In The Garden Before Winter

Garlic was planted in the garden the same day we planted fava beans. It was the middle of October. I made notes of what was planted where but forgot to note the date. As Bugs Bunny would say, “What a maroon!

Garlic Sprouts in the Fall Near Fava Beans
Garlic Sprouts in the Fall Near Fava Beans

By the middle of November the garlic cloves had sprouted and grew enough so that about 2 inches of the sprouts were sticking out of the ground.

Both crops, the fava beans and garlic, should overwinter just fine.

The weather was so mild in the last of Autumn and the start of Winter. We even had a day warm enough last month to break a high temperature record at 64 degrees. Any time we get to feel the 60s in December is an oddity in the mountains of Pennsylvania.

To assure that the eventually harsh winter won’t freeze out the young plants, they surely should have been mulched. That would afford some protection against wild swings in temperatures come Spring. Oh well, we like to test the extremes around here, so we’ll see what happens to the garlic and fava beans without a layer of winter mulch. We’ll make sure to add some old straw once the pile of snow melts away.

Garlic Sprouting in the Garden
Garlic Sprouting in the Garden

The garlic varieties that were planted came from Nichol’s Garden Nursery out of Albany, Oregon: Garlic Duganskij and Garlic Chesnok Red. We picked these garlic varieties from the ones we liked the best out of their Garlic Sampler that we planted two years ago.

Sure, you can find garlic offered for sale on Amazon, like Chesnok Red Garlic, but the best selection is available in late Summer. It’s a bit late this year to be planting garlic, but even if you have a clove or two from store-bought garlic, plunk them in the ground if it’s not yet frozen. Else, you’ll have to wait until Spring thaw.

Fresh Native Chives for the Kitchen

We have these chives growing wild on the land. It seems a lot of front yards have them growing there, too.

American Wild Chive Plants
American Wild Chive Plants

I read where a woman loved the smell of chives being cut as she mowed her lawn. It reminds me of how we tame back the mints and throw the clippings in the yard before mowing it so the hot sweaty mowing person is treated to a refreshing blast of mint while they’re slaving away.

As far as the chives go for a lawn scent I think it would be good too.

Our chives seem to only grow in the ‘lowland’ of the mountain and not at the top. Now, we’re talking only a few hundred feet difference in elevation and I can’t swear that no chives grow up by the house.

Patch of Wild Chive Plants Growing in Pennsylvania Mountains
Patch of Wild Chive Plants Growing in Pennsylvania Mountains

But, the thing is there is a large patch of chives on the west side of the lane that seems to be thriving in a wooded area dominated by oak trees.

For some reason it always surprises me that chives would naturally grow in the forests of Pennsylvania. Who knew?

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