Onions, leeks and garlic played an important role in Egyptian history and probably are the most cherished edible treasures in any given gourmet kitchen today.
It is believed that onions and leeks were considered sacred and artists re-created their images on the ancient Egyptian tombs and monuments. It also is reputed that garlic was supplied to all the builders of the great pyramids to keep them healthy. Ideally, late November is the best time to plant this dynamic trio (Zone 14)but if you get out there soon, you will still get an excellent crop.
The onion is one of the hardiest of vegetable-garden plants and prefers a sunny location with a fine loose soil.
Amend heavier ground with compost or manure in an area that is free of weeds. The key to growing big, beautiful onions is to encourage the onion tops to grow as rapidly as possible, which means lots of fertilizer early on. Since onions have a coarse, small root system, side-dress the plants with fertilizer as close to the plants as you can or foliar feed them.
Once bulbing begins, there is no point in fertilizing anymore because the onion's size already is determined by the size of the top.
Harvest onions when the tops have fallen over, leaving them to dry somewhere shady for a couple of weeks before braiding or storing.
Leeks are another garden favorite; they are similar to onions only far sweeter and not nearly as pungent. One of the advantages of growing your own leeks is that they are free of the irritating grit that often is trapped between the layers of commercially grown leeks.
Select a spot in the garden that has a light rich soil in which to plant your leeks. The easiest way to plant is to dig trenches and line leek seedlings up six inches apart along the bottom of each trench and then cover the roots with soil. You will gradually fill in the trenches with soil over the next several weeks as part of the growing process. When the leeks reach the thickness of pencils, carefully add more soil to the trench. Repeat in another two weeks by filling the trench flush with the level of the soil surface.
Pull more soil or aged compost up around the plant stems twice more during the growing season and wait for harvest. Take great care when adding or when hilling up the soil; avoid having dirt fall into the whorl of the leek's leaves. Garlic also needs a fertile loose soil with lots of organic matter. It is really important that the soil is loose to prevent compaction through the long growing season.
Plant individual cloves from a garlic bulb in 1-inch holes. Immediately after planting, apply a layer of mulch on top. In spring, the garlic will have no trouble pushing through an inch of organic material. This also is the time to side-dress the garlic with a little chicken manure, seedmeal or strong compost tea fertilizer.
Garlic likes high-nitrogen fertilizers so foliar feed the plants every 10 days to two weeks until bulbs begin to form. Once bulbing begins, fertilizing is useless and may even be harmful to getting the best quality bulbs. The time to harvest is when all the leaves have completely browned off. Gently lift the bulbs out of the soil with a spading fork and do not wash.
Drying is the essential part of curing the bulbs. Place your garlic in a shaded well-ventilated area to dry. The plants should cure in three weeks to two months, depending on the humidity and air circulation. Bon appetit!
Photo courtesy of The Label Man. All kinds of cool antique seed packets, fruit crate labels and more. Visit: www.thelabelman.com
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