WILD GARLIC AB
Allium ursinum
Wild garlic is an ancient aromatic and medicinal perennial plant growing to 30-40 cm and bearing umbels of white flowers in April-May . Native to Europe and Asia , it is found growing wild in cool, shady undergrowth .
In cooking , its leaves , flowers and bulbs are used as vegetables , cooked like spinach or as a condiment , to enhance salads , pesto , soups and herbal teas .
Wild garlic is also a medicinal plant which has properties similar to those of garlic , such as purifying , antiseptic , etc.
Wild garlic cycle
Wild garlic enters a dormant period during the winter and summer , during which time it loses its foliage but its root bulb is still present. After a dormant period, wild garlic will develop its first leaves in March . The white flowers appear between April and June .
How to successfully sow wild garlic
Since wild garlic is a wild perennial , sowing can be a bit tricky. We recommend refrigerating your seeds for a month, then soaking them the night before sowing.
Enrich the soil with compost before sowing , sow lightly in July in partial shade (the temperature must exceed 15°C ) on a moist layer of seed compost , barely covering the seeds .
Water with a fine watering head at the time of sowing , then with a fine watering head every week, until September . The seedling will germinate in 3 to 4 weeks and will spread out over time, for example if you sow in mid-July, the germinant will take place from mid-August to mid-September depending on the conditions, the seed, etc. Keep the soil cool for the young seedlings if the conditions are dry in September .
Thin out only in the second year , to 20 cm , and take the opportunity to consume the young plants removed.
Setting up in the garden
As wild garlic is an undergrowth plant , we recommend planting it in a shaded area of your garden . Water in case of drought .
Harvesting wild garlic
You can start harvesting wild garlic the following year. Harvest the leaves and flowers as needed , leaving the root bulb in place. The leaves will have a more intense aroma before flowering .
How to cook wild garlic
The leaves , stems and flower buds are eaten raw in salads , in pesto or cooked even if it will lose its aroma or to accompany fish , poultry , vegetables , etc.
You can dry or freeze wild garlic leaves .
