What to Plant this month: May
- judithstred
- May 3, 2015
- 2 min read
*For gardening in sub-tropical regions; for gardening schedule for other regions, check out www.gardenate.com
GARLIC & ONION
Garlic
Planting
Plant the cloves (separated from the bulb), point upwards, deep enough to just cover with soil. Space plants: 10 - 12 cm apart.
Compatible with (can grow in same bed): Beets, Carrots, Cucumbers, Dill, Tomatoes, Parsnips
Avoid growing in same bed: Asparagus, Beans, Brassicas, Peas, Potatoes
Care
On better soil with regular watering you will get a better crop. On poorer soil, and forgetting to water them, you will still get some garlic, only not quite so much.
Harvest in 17-25 weeks.
Leave a garlic to go to seed, and you will probably get plenty of self-sown plants the following year. To keep for later use, dig up and leave to dry out for a day or so after the green shoots die down. To use immediately, pull up a head when you need it, or cut and use the green shoots.
Storage
You'll need to dry your homegrown garlic before you store it for a prolonged time. After harvesting, carefully wash the bulb and roots. Let the garlic dry in a shady, well-ventilated, moisture-free area for a week or more. You can hang the freshly harvested bulbs from their stalks if you like.
Onion
Planting
Space plants: 5 - 10 cm apart
Compatible with (can grow in same bed): Lemon Balm, Borage, Carrots, Beets, Silverbeet, Lettuce, Amaranth
Avoid growing in same bed: Peas, Beans
Care
They don't have to be in a greenhouse (though that would be ideal), any sheltered spot will do. The idea is to guard against rapid changes of temperature, especially at night.
Harvest in 25-34 weeks.
They will take six to eight months to mature. Onions are ready when the tops start to dry and fall over. Pull them and leave to dry for a few days.
Storage
Store in a cool, dry airy place. Use a net bag or make a string by weaving the tops together.
Happy Gardening!