It's Garlic time here at Missing Goat Farm. I had my friend Janis Nicolay of Pinecone Camp come out, to see how we harvest garlic. Janis photographed her day in the country, and we thought you may like to see it too!
We planted our garlic in raised beds last October. Do not buy garlic from the grocery store if you want to grow your own. The garlic in stores is treated to prevent sprouting. Buy organic garlic or garlic sold in the garden centres in the fall. Nine months later - it's time to pull them up!
Janis commented on how strong the smell of garlic was when you pulled them out of the ground.
Next - clean the heads gently and remove the excess dirt. Leave the roots on till they are dry.
I'm short on time these days, as the farm is hopping. So I bundle them together and bind them with a rubber band.
I then hang them to dry in my greenhouse - which I have shaded with a tarp. Direct sun will alter the taste of your garlic and make it bitter. Keep them in a shaded, well ventilated spot. I put a fan in the greenhouse to circulate the air as well.
Two weeks later... they have cured a bit. Trim off the roots...
..and remove the outside wrappers that have dirt on them. The outside wrappers will be dry and tissue paper like. You now have beautiful garlic heads ready to go.
The fun can begin.
Bag them up in paper bags and give them as gifts to friends. Once they try homegrown garlic, they will never buy from a supermarket again. You will have many new friends and you can wield this power to improve your life. (I'm joking of course).
Break them open and start cooking up your favourite dishes. 
Or (and this is my favourite way), slice off the tops..
place them in a muffin tin with assorted herbs sprinkled on top..
drizzle good olive oil over each head..
cover with foil and roast in the oven - 350 degrees for about 40 - 45 minutes.
Get some delicious bread and spread it on with a bit of butter. It's amazing. I challenge you to buy a head of garlic from a local organic farmers market and one from the supermarket. Roast them both and do a taste test. The difference is shocking. You'll be pulling out your begonias and tossing the mums to make room for garlic.
32 comments:
Me and Mr.Bazaar get through garlic like there is no tomorrow, so I will have to try and grow some. I wonder if it would work in a window box?!
Fantastic post; great words and beautiful images. I try to acquire 'wet' garlic when in season and roast and then eat with cream cheese and quality bread, yum!...
i should try plant garlic. Nice idea.
mmm, I love garlic and home grown garlic definitely tastes the best! I just pulled mine yesterday!
MMMM....the photos and post have me wanting to plant garlic. Think I will!
Thanks!
lovely photo's - the idea of roasting garlic in a muffin tin is perfect! can't wait to try this.
I do not currently have a garden, but the farmers market's locally are filled with fresh garlic.
Oh yum...I can almost smell the garlic! We love roasting whole garlic bulbs in the oven - the taste is so sweet and heavenly. Wonderful post :)
I can never get garlic to grow for more than a couple weeks. :(
Such a gorgeous post! I roast cloves of garlic in the oven all the time but love your idea of placing them in muffin tins with herbs sprinkled on top - will definitely do that next time :-)
..yumm...darn that I didn't get to Missing Goat!...but there is always next time!....maybe I will plant some @ home.....
I may just be doing that very thing! Tossing flowers out and planting garlic. This looks and sounds delectable!
Brenda
This garlic looks sooooo good! Must make the test, like you said. And these pictures are so pretty - the purple gloves ad just the touch!
your garlic looks divine...im gonna try growing my own next year!
we get garlic from the local csa...it is so beautiful it glows! and it is the best tasting garlic i have ever enjoyed.
I am definitely going to try this - we get our garlic pre-peeled from the normal grocery store, and I think I may have to get some at the Farmer's market this weekend!
Yum! I love garlic but have never tried to grow it myself, when I have the space I will definitely give it a go. In the meantime there is a farm down the road that grows it.
Oh my gosh, this is an incredible photo shoot! I love every bit of it!
And now I'm really craving roasted garlic : )
oxo
mmmmmmm garlic. i'm korean. we LIVE for garlic. but i never thought garlic was pretty - cute yes, pretty no - till now.
Gorgeous photos and beautiful story-telling. Loved it all, ladies. Thank you for sharing.
xoox,
-maria
Nothing better than roasted garlic. Great on toast and a nice thing to have in the fridge to add to pasta, vegetables, anything really.
emma@themarionhousebook
Love! Such beautiful picture I absolutely adore this post!
xo tash
This is one of my favorite posts I've ever seen on Poppytalk! I love how garlic is so tinged with pink.
Mmm! I can smell the garlic from here!
I'm going to have to take this challenge and get some fresh garlic this weekend.
Love the garlic ideas!
I looooooove garlic! I have neighbours down the street who grow garlic so I get mine from them. It's the only kind of garlic I eat!
The garlic and bread sounds yummy! I'm heading to the farmers market tomorrow so I'll give this a try. Beautiful photos and great tips, thank you!
ummmm, i love roasted garlic! great story ladies!
Could you please tell me the best way to store garlic once you have it dried. We have alot of it and I am not sure how to keep it from rotting? thanks
Tracylynne - there are those garlic terracotta containers (available in most kitchen/cookware stores) that have holes in them so the garlic doesn't collect moisture.
Love the photos!
I grow elephant garlic in my garden. We harvest it in Santa Barbara in early summer. I love the beautiful, round, lavender colored flowers that grow from the stems. They look like pom pom's lined up in marching band formation. :)
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