Proven ways to properly store winter garlic at home until spring
Garlic is one of the traditional spices that is used to prepare a wide range of dishes.
There are two main varieties: winter, which is sown in the fall, and spring, which is planted in the spring.
The summer vegetable is considered the most suitable for long-term storage, but winter garlic can also be harvested and stored for a long time, following certain technology.
We'll tell you how to store winter garlic below.
Content
Preparation for storage until the new harvest
Garlic that is planned to be left for the winter must be especially carefully prepared. One of the main rules is the importance of timely harvesting..
If you miss the right moment, the heads will begin to fall apart into slices. The winter variety is harvested in late July in warm and dry weather.
After harvesting, winter garlic must be thoroughly dried. The roots of the plants are cut off. The tops are not cut off immediately.
If the crop will be stored in braids, then you need to leave 0.4 m; for bunches, 0.2 m is suitable, in all other cases it will be enough to leave 20 mm. The harvested vegetable crop must be sorted, removing damaged heads.
The length of storage of the crop largely depends on the correct preparation of the winter variety.
Fresh
Storing garlic fresh allows you to preserve maximum nutrients. Since the winter variety lies worse than the spring variety, it is advisable to use it first.
In a refrigerator
In the refrigerator for winter garlic you can create favorable conditions if you place it directly with its heads in a paper bag. Sealed packaging is not the best option, since without air access the vegetable will quickly begin to disappear.
In addition to this method, large cloves of the winter variety can be preserved in vegetable oil. To do this, the heads are cleaned, divided into slices.
How to prepare garlic paste, which should be stored in the refrigerator, in the video:
In the freezer
Both spring and winter varieties are suitable for freezing. The slices must be sent for storage already peeled. It is also possible to freeze ground garlic.
Freezing must be organized in such a way that only the required amount of the workpiece can be thawed for use.
At room temperature
The winter variety is not very suitable for storage in a warm apartment, since the optimal temperature for its storage is a lower one.
Bank storage may be a way out, organized in such a way that the layers of the vegetable are sprinkled with flour or salt.
If possible, it is recommended to move even garlic sprinkled with salt or flour to a cool place. For example, in a storage room or on a loggia.
In the barn, attic, cellar, loggia
The traditional storage of winter vegetables is to place them in a cool, not damp cellar, equipped balcony or shed. There are several ways to store supplies. The garlic harvest in the cellar should be stored separately from other vegetables and fruits.
In the spit
If a long top was left, you can braid a dozen and a half heads in a braid. To ensure that the woven stems hold well, you can weave twine. They begin to weave with large heads, gradually weaving in smaller ones. The braid ends with a loop from which you can hang the garlic.
In conjunction
If the tops are 20 centimeters long, you can form bunches. They are tied closer to the heads with twine and hung.
In paraffin
To better preserve the heads of garlic, they can be coated with paraffin. It is melted (for example, in a water bath) and the heads are dipped for a couple of seconds. After the paraffin dries, the heads will become protected from external influences.
In a box/box
Whole, uncleaned heads are suitable for storage in boxes. garlic The boxes and boxes that are used must have holes to allow air to circulate. It is recommended to sprinkle layers of vegetables with sawdust or salt.
In wicker baskets
Garlic, even winter garlic, can last a long time in baskets made of natural material. In storage, wicker baskets can be placed on shelves or hung.
In grids
Storing large quantities of garlic in nets is a popular option. In this form, the supplies can be suspended from the beams.Since the nets have a large capacity, when planting, you should check that the sharp, dry tails under heavy weight do not damage other bulbs.
Textile bags
Cotton or linen bags can be used to store supplies garlic To protect the contents, they need to be prepared - pre-soaked in a concentrated salt solution.
Other options
In addition to storing the vegetable fresh, winter garlic can be preserved or dried. In the case where there is both a spring and a winter variety, it is better to leave the first one fresh and process the second one.
Drying
It is better to dry winter garlic cut into thin slices. This will reduce the drying time, since the slices themselves of this species are usually large.
Several methods can be used for drying:
- air drying;
- using an electric dryer;
- oven use.
An electric dryer helps dry the fastest; the slowest process takes place under natural conditions. The disadvantage of using technology is the cost of using resources (electricity, gas).
High-quality dried vegetables can be ground. In this form, the workpiece will not take up much space, and it is much more convenient to use. It is best to grind the garlic not all at once, but as needed. In this case, the seasoning will be more flavorful.
An option for creating a dried preparation is in the video:
Conservation
There are many recipes for canning garlic Among them are methods of harvesting together with other vegetables or separate pickling.
How to pickle and marinate garlic - on video:
Product shelf life
The storage period of the winter species is greatly influenced by the conditions that must be maintained throughout the entire period. Winter garlic does not store well, so it must be used first. Its shelf life is on average no more than 3-4 months.
Particular attention should be paid to the following factors:
- protection from light penetration;
- humidity ranging from 50 to 80%;
- good air circulation;
- air temperature from +2 to +4? C.
Storage conditions for spring and winter species differ.
Nuances for winter and spring varieties
Winter varieties can be distinguished externally - they have a dense core, around which individual lobules are located.
A spring vegetable, unlike a winter vegetable, does not have a powerful stem, and its bottom is not so massive, and the teeth are smaller in size. Such differences are associated with planting characteristics.
Traditionally, spring varieties are more suitable for long-term storage; they can last up to a year. The spring variety is stored at a higher temperature - within +16-20? C.
Winter varieties have denser scales and a stronger bottom. This is due to the fact that vegetables sown in winter can withstand even severe frosts. Spring varieties are more tender, the scales are thinner. Their root system is also less developed.
Each type has its own strengths and weaknesses. Winter crops benefit from the size of the lobes and ripen faster, while spring crops are better stored. For sowing, it is recommended to choose varieties cultivated for the climatic conditions of a particular region.
What to do if a vegetable sprouts?
During long-term storage of a vegetable harvested in winter, it may spoil. One common reason is sprouting. At the same time, roots begin to grow.At the same time, the condition of the vegetable itself deteriorates. The cause of sprouting may be improper preparation of garlic heads for storage or violation of the conditions under which they are located.
In the event that a significant part of the harvested crop has been damaged, You can save it in the following way:
- Disassemble the heads into individual slices.
- Clear them.
- Place clean teeth into a jar.
- Pour sunflower oil on top.
This preparation is stored in the refrigerator. The slices can be used as needed. If, in addition to germination, there is also rot and mold, such teeth cannot be further processed or used for food.
7 recommendations to help
Get a good harvest of winter garlic and preserve it efficiently, The following advice from agricultural experts will help:
To obtain a bountiful harvest, the soil must be fertilized and light, rich in phosphorus.- Winter varieties require nitrogen-containing fertilizing.
- Winter varieties should be planted before the onset of cold weather. Otherwise, the seed material may be lost.
- In regions with a mild climate, planting even spring crops in winter is permissible, but subject to a number of conditions.
- For planting winter garlic, only high-quality planting material is selected.
- When storing fresh garlic, it is necessary to periodically review the stock, putting aside damaged heads.
- Violation of the rules for maintaining the harvested crop can lead to drying out of the heads. This may be too high a temperature and/or low humidity.
Conclusion
You can store not only spring garlic, but also winter garlic.It can be kept fresh for several months if you follow all the rules for finding a vegetable. With a large harvest, proper organization of the storage system, as well as canning, drying and freezing, will help preserve the vegetable.
