Time to Plant Garlic Again

Few items we grow in the garden are surrounded by such a colorful history as the humble garlic. Cultures worldwide have long held garlic in high esteem, attributing it with powers both to heal and repel that which would do us harm. Sanskrit records dating back 5,000 years name it a medicine, and the Chinese have been using it as such for at least 3,000 years. Hippocrates, he of the famed Hippocratic Oath still sworn to by doctors today, prescribed garlic for everything from infections to leprosy as far back as 300 BC. Even Louis Pasteur, one of the founders of modern bacteriology, noted garlic’s antibacterial properties. More recent studies indicate garlic is efficient in the prevention of heart disease and cancer and can even help eliminate heavy metals from the body. Of course this time of year, on the cusp of Halloween, the association between garlic and vampires is unavoidable. Although many cultures, including the ancient Greeks, held the belief that garlic could ward off evil, it is central Europe we most often associate with this myth.  But all legend, myths, and superstitions aside, it’s garlic's unique flavor that keeps us coming back for more.

Freeze Protection

Here's a big one to put on your 'To Do' list: Winterize Drip System. Water expands when it freezes. Winter happens. It doesn't matter if your water lines are made of PVC, poly, copper, or steel, they can burst or crack. Be proactive. Don't waste time and money on needless repairs.

In most parts of the country there is real concern about freezing during the winter months, and that includes frost damage to your drip irrigation system. When winterizing, there are mainly two areas to consider: the system start (timer, valves, and filter) and any low spots in the lines where water may settle. The elements of the system start can be seen in the photo at the left. Whether or not you have low spots to deal with depends on the presence of elevation changes in your terrain.

Rose Propagation and Watering

Photo credit: T. Kiya from Flickr via creative commons license 

I’ve been growing rose bushes for many years now and I find that the longest living, most productive and fragrant roses are those grown and propagated from their own roots. If you propagate your own cuttings from heirlooms varieties, you'll be waking up to the most wonderful fragrance every morning. Below you'll find a short list of tips aimed to help you start propagating your own roses, and for those with experience please feel free to add to this list in the comments below.