Rocambole
Both the garlic and rocambole are now harvested and hung for curing. Garlic is divided between hard neck, of which rocambole is the most ancient form, and soft neck types. The primary difference is that hard neck varieties produce “flower stalks” called scapes that terminate in round “seed heads” (actually clusters of bulbils). Soft neck varieties, the common garlic found at market, do not produce scapes.
Garlic hung for curing
The English have never been garlic eaters. In 1699 John Evelyn proclaimed: “tho’ both…Spaniards and Italians, and the more Southern People [eat garlic] with almost everything…we absolutely forbid it entrance into our Salleting, by reason of its intolerable Rankness…to be sure, ‘tis not for Ladies Palats nor those who court them.” The English carried this prejudice to North America. In 1851 Peter Adam Schenck recorded in The gardener’s text book, published in New York, “among all classes of society in the southern parts of Europe, it enters into the composition of nearly every dish for the table. In England and the United States, however, it is by no means a favorite, as its strong, nauseating smell is repulsive to our more refined taste.”
This is often a surprise to the modern gardener who considers this pungent bulb as an indispensable item of cookery. For those who wish to make the experiment, garlic cloves are planted in October in all but the most extreme northern colonies and harvested in summer when the foliage starts to decline. For a milder, better shaped bulb, harvest the garlic when the bottom leaves turn yellow but while the top leaves are still green.
There is much debate about rather the bulbs should be washed before they are hung to dry. We wash the soil form the bulbs before hanging with good effect but there are some who feel that any contact with water retards the curing. You must let your experience be your guide.
For a thorough examination of the Allium tribe you are encouraged to inspect Vegetable Gardening the Colonial Williamsburg way, 18th century methods for today’s organic gardeners (Rodale Press) .
Dear Christine,
I was distressed to hear of your struggles with the spring Brassicas. It is, indeed, a humbling endeavor when one presumes to manage natures produce. We have sown seeds for the fall lettuce, endive, parsley, brassicas and celery in the propagation frames within the last week so if you have not yet completed this task on the Illinois frontier, you may wish to rely on your local nurseryman for these plants. We direct sow plants such as kale, turnips and the small salads such as mustard and rocket (arugula) the first of September which I would imagine would suit your climate as well. We wait for the first of October to sow the spinach and corn salad but I would suspect you would have success sowing these in September as well.
Your humble servant,
Wesley Greene
Dear Wesley,
Don’t distress over my “struggles” this growing season. It has been a fun learning experience. I think this weekend we are to have some dry weather. I will try again, some of the cool weather crops. I might however, also take your suggestion to purchase some brassicas plants to see if I get better results. It will be seeds vs. plants this fall. The winner will be eaten.
As always, thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Have a great week.
Your humble student,
Chris
Good day Wesley,
As I read Lew’s question and your answer I may have some idea what happened to my beets in the Chicago area. I had great greens then dead leaves. The only thing about mine is that I planted the seeds about 3 inches apart so I would not have to thin them. My little Polish farm girl Grandma had my Mother plant her beets that way back in the 1950’s. My Mom always had a great harvest of beets. I think part of it was the Spring rain and rain and then high temps. I would say we really did not have a cool season. My cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale seeds had leaves, then something, probably the “cabbage butterflies” ate most of the leaves. They never even started to grow heads. I’ll try again in the fall.
When should I even think about starting my cool weather crops here in the Chicago area?
As always, the sharing of your knowledge is greatly appreciated.
Stay cool,
Chris
Lew Louraine says
Beets have been a disaster this year in Western Massachusetts. We got germination from seeds but then 90% of them died. Lots of rain this spring, average temps, amended soil.
Any thoughts on way such a large die off?
Dear Lew,
Beet seeds are actually a cluster of many seeds so it is important that they be thinned or transplanted while young. Overcrowding, from lack of thinning or weed competition is the most common reason for failure. Beets have very shallow and somewhat weak root systems so disturbing the soil through tilling or weeding may harm them, or, if your soil stayed waterlogged for too long, the roots may have been destroyed. They have no serious pests that I have encountered but some gardeners have reported an infestation of root knot nematodes. You will know this pest by small galls that cover the roots. A planting of marigolds in the season before you sow your beets will often remedy this problem. Finally, the soil pH must be maintained above 6.0.
Your obedient servant, &c. Wesley Greene