Finding wild garlic growing is not only a small treasure, it is a gold mine. During one of my walks around the area looking for possible morels for springtime harvesting, I came across a little patch of wild garlic.
So I decided to harvest them and replant into my garden. Instead of getting garlic bulbs (which I will still do) I could take these already established local variety. Of course I ate a couple and tasted the awesome flavor before I made my choice. It was very mild and I can still taste the garlic, yum. When I decide to do something like this, as with any other wild plants, I live by the 1/3 rule. 1/3 for harvest, 1/3 for wild animal foraging, 1/3 for propagation. This way I leave 2/3 of the plants there to maintain and grow their establishment. Though I took a lot, it was not near the 1/3 I could have taken. I want to see how they transplant, though they transplant well, from prior experience. So I am flush with garlic!
I will do a write up about garlic tomorrow, it is too much for now and I am really tired, needing to get to supper making here in a few. For now I will tell you how I dug them up and transplanted them with little disturbance to the little field.
I first cleared the area of the leaf litter.
I then used my knife, that I always take along, which does not have a seraded edge, and cut around the plant. Leaving about 1-2 inches from the active bunches. I dig in so as to make a cone shape at he bottom, for easy grabbing.
I grab the dirt around the bulbs and pull the entire clump out.
I put the clumps in a container for transporting. Making sure not to loose the dirt that is holding those bulbs together.
Dig a hole in the huglekultr about 4 inches deep.
I use my fingers as a measure.
Place the bulbs in the hole make sure it is not to deep.
Cover loosely with dirt, and I will add mulch on top tomorrow around each group of plants. As soon as the weather warms a bit more I will dig up again and replant each bulb. This way the plant will be able to grow as large as it wants and next year I will have many bunches of this wild garlic. It is a bit prolific through its root leaders. The growth can be minimized with the harvesting at the height of summer when it is not growing as much. I will though have garlic year round though!
Well please up-vote and follow if you like my content. I will continue to post similar articles on plants, homegrown foods, gardening and homesteading ideas. Again thanks for dropping in. Remember that this is not medical advice nor do I prescribe anything to anyone. This post is for educational purposes only. Your body is your temple, treat it well. Have a great garden!
