The stinking rose: Garlic wisdom, fall lawn care, and November blooms

Welcome, everybody. And the answer is “a blueberry” (question at the end of the column — no fair peeking).

Realizing that the “stinking rose” — garlic — is my spirit vegetable, here are some reflections on garlic as I plant my 100 cloves of seed garlic.

Garlic (Allium sativum) originated in Central Asia and has been cultivated and eaten for more than 7,000 years. It was crucial to building the Egyptian pyramids because it was given to laborers to boost strength and endurance. The poetic name “nectar of the gods,” referencing its unique pungent flavor, reflects how it was valued as a talisman or protective charm against vampires, werewolves, assorted demons and, naturally, the dreaded “evil eye” in superstitious folklore.

In 1858, Louis Pasteur discovered garlic’s potent antimicrobial properties. It is strongly antiviral and contributes to improved cardiovascular health — a true defense against “medical villainous ailments.”

Plant garlic four to six weeks before the first hard frost (mid-September to November). Choose a sunny area with well-drained, fertile soil. Select the largest cloves for planting and use the smaller ones for cooking. Plant cloves pointy end up, about 2 to 3 inches deep and 4 to 6 inches apart, then cover with straw, leaves or grass clippings to protect them from freezing winter temperatures.

Garlic has two main types: hardneck and softneck varieties. My preference is the hardneck type. Hardneck garlic grows around a central woody stalk (scape); it has fewer but larger cloves, is easier to peel, has a more robust flavor, a shorter shelf life and grows well in cold Ohio conditions. It is planted in fall for harvest the following spring or summer. Softneck garlic, which doesn’t produce scapes, has smaller cloves but more of them, a milder flavor, longer storage life, and flexible stems that make it easier to braid. This is the type most often sold in grocery stores.

A word of caution: Don’t waste time planting grocery store garlic, as it may have been treated to inhibit sprouting. Use only locally sourced seed garlic.

To dull garlic breath, chew a few sprigs of parsley or try chlorophyll mints.

Fall lawn care

Our lawns recover from summer stress in the fall thanks to warm soil, cool weather and more moisture. Keep mowing until the grass stops actively growing. As winter approaches, maintain grass height at 2 to 2½ inches — cutting it too short can weaken the roots before winter.

Now is a great time for core aeration, which removes plugs of soil to improve air, water and nutrient flow to the roots — especially important in Ohio’s heavy clay or compacted soils. Fall is also ideal for overseeding to fill thin or bare patches. Rake or mulch fallen leaves; don’t leave them on the lawn for more than two weeks.

To save time, money and effort — and possibly your lawn — do a soil test. Add fertilizers or nutrients only in the recommended amounts based on the results.

November flowers

There are two birth flowers for November — the chrysanthemum and the peony.

Question: “What do you call a sad cranberry?”

Until next time — peace.