Regular Garlic
It produces flavourful bulbs suitable for a wide variety of recipes while offering excellent storage potential. It is easy to grow and perfectly adapted to Quebec gardens.
Regular Garlic (Allium sativum) is a classic vegetable garden staple valued for its ease of cultivation, hardiness, and remarkable versatility in the kitchen. It produces medium-sized bulbs composed of firm, aromatic, flavourful cloves with a mild and slightly pungent taste. Its upright, blue-green foliage reaches 40 to 60 cm in height before turning yellow at maturity, indicating that harvest time is approaching. Hardy to Zone 3, this garlic is particularly well adapted to Quebec growing conditions. Reliable and productive, it provides a generous supply of bulbs that store well after proper curing.
Plant the cloves in fall with the pointed end facing upward, approximately 5 cm deep, spacing them 10 to 15 cm apart and leaving 30 cm between rows. Choose a location in full sun with loose, organically rich, and perfectly drained soil. An application of well-aged compost before planting encourages bulb development, while excessive nitrogen mainly promotes foliage growth. Water lightly after planting, then moderately during active growth without keeping the soil constantly wet. Gradually reduce watering before harvest and remove the flower scapes to encourage larger bulbs.
Regular garlic is ideal for family vegetable gardens, food gardens, edible flower beds, and large, well-drained containers. It grows well alongside carrots, tomatoes, beets, lettuce, and strawberries while helping deter certain pests. Its young flower scapes are edible and delicious sautéed, grilled, or made into pesto; when left on the plant, their flowers may attract pollinators. The cloves add wonderful flavour to sauces, stews, marinades, roasted vegetables, confit preparations, and lacto-fermented recipes. Harvest when approximately half of the foliage has faded, then cure the bulbs in a dry, well-ventilated location.
