Five Effective Ways To Store Garlic

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Are you having trouble preserving the garlic? Do you see green growth, mold, teeth become lethargic, yellow, wrinkled? After reading this article, you will be able to use your crop until summer in the same quality. Get familiar with the preparation process and storage methods

Which garlic keeps well

The key to successful storage is quality raw material. It is important to collect on time. For winter garlic planted in the middle lane, the harvesting period is determined from the end of July to 10 August. Spring plantings do not coincide slightly in terms of time: they are postponed to the end of August, sometimes they are held in early September. In any case, the sign of the maturity of the heads is determined by the type of leaves - the lower ones completely wither, and the ends of the upper ones dry out and turn yellow.

A trial digging is done for the quality of the head; it must have an integral shell of three layers. Removing the film is easy, the slices have a thin, durable shell and are well separated. A thick, loose coating on the teeth indicates immature, a head that disintegrates into teeth indicates overripe. Both traits are not favorable for long-term storage. Before harvesting, the garlic is not watered so that the heads do not rot from an excess of moisture.

How to properly prepare garlic for storage

Wishing to preserve the quality of garlic for a long time, you need to dry it thoroughly. Usually this process takes place indoors for several weeks. For this, the stems are not completely cut off and are tied in bunches of 7-12 pieces, then suspended with their heads down. When the stem dries up, the husk over the cloves becomes rustling and separates well - the garlic is considered dried. It is important to inspect each copy for mechanical damage and fungal diseases before storing it.

How to store garlic at home

All storage methods are divided into warm and cold. This is, respectively, a living room (16-18 C) or a cellar (+ 1 … + 3 C). There are effective ways for the townspeople, which we will describe in more detail.

1 way. On the balcony

The container is used only "breathable" - these are cardboard boxes with holes for ventilation, old string bags, and nylon stockings / tights that have proven themselves for such purposes. The heads, selected for storage, are placed in a box or poured into stockings, shopping bags, then placed in a suspended state in a glazed loggia. Such a container creates ideal conditions for air access, since the worst thing for garlic during storage is moisture / condensation. Here the heads will not "sweat" and will remain dry.

It is important to monitor the weather and prevent freezing. Within 0… -3 C, cover with a rug / blanket. In severe frosts, you will have to bring it into the room. Sharp temperature fluctuations will be an unfavorable factor. As a result, condensation appears on the heads, after which rotting can begin. To avoid such processes, before taking it to the balcony again, you need to sort it out and dry it (sprinkle it for a couple of hours).

Method 2. Garlic in salt

A great way for a small harvest. Any glass / plastic jar can be used. The laying takes place in layers: a centimeter layer of salt is poured on the bottom, then garlic is laid, then salt and so on to the top, ending with the final layer of salt. The filled container should be closed with a polyethylene lid. In this form, the garlic remains indoors, preferably cool.

Method 3. Refrigerator

Knowing the rules for storing garlic in the refrigerator, you can use the cloves unchanged for a long time. Do not put in polyethylene - the heads will be covered with moisture and roots will begin to grow actively. Only a cardboard box with ventilation holes that fits in the vegetable compartment will do.

Method 4. Wax or paraffin

The laborious process of preservation with wax justifies the effort - the garlic does not fade, does not dry, does not germinate and retains its quality for a long time. The procedure consists of trimming the roots of well-dried heads (up to the heel) and removing excess upper scales. Prepared garlic is treated with warm wax / paraffin. Can be brushed or dipped. A hundred heads will require 250 g. After the applied layer hardens, the garlic is folded into a wooden / cardboard box and covered with a cloth. It is advisable to keep it cool later.

Method 5. Onion husks, river sand

The best way to store in a living room. At a stable temperature, garlic, covered with onion husks or sand, will remain fresh for a long time. In such a "package" you can put on a glazed loggia, but not allow freezing.

Garlic storage tips

• Better conditions: cool, dark, well ventilated.

• At temperatures above +22, the process of shrinkage and weight loss begins.

• Ideal humidity 50-65%.

• Do not use polyethylene as a container.

• We need a periodic inspection of the heads, with the removal of the damaged ones.