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Showing posts from September, 2026

Purple Garlic: Benefits, Flavor, Growing Tips & How to Use It

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 Garlic comes in many varieties, but purple garlic stands out for its attractive color, rich flavor, and versatility in the kitchen. The purple streaks on its outer skin make it easy to recognize, while its distinctive taste makes it a favorite among home gardeners, cooks, and garlic enthusiasts. Whether you want to grow your own garlic or simply learn more about different garlic varieties, purple garlic is worth exploring. What Is Purple Garlic? Purple garlic refers to garlic varieties that develop purple or reddish-purple streaks and markings on their bulb wrappers. These varieties can vary in appearance, flavor, bulb size, and growing characteristics. Some types are known for producing large cloves, while others are appreciated for their stronger, more complex flavor. Many purple-skinned garlic varieties are hardneck types. Hardneck garlic typically produces a central flowering stalk called a scape, which can also be harvested and used in cooking. The combination of colorful bu...

Heirloom Seed Potatoes: Best Varieties to Grow for a Better Harvest

 Growing potatoes at home can be much more interesting when you move beyond the common varieties found in grocery stores. Heirloom seed potatoes offer gardeners the chance to grow unique potato varieties with distinctive colors, shapes, textures, and flavors. Many of these varieties have been grown and passed down for generations, making them an appealing choice for gardeners who enjoy traditional crops. Whether you have a backyard garden, raised beds, or a small growing space, choosing the right heirloom variety can make your potato-growing experience more rewarding. What Are Heirloom Seed Potatoes? Heirloom seed potatoes are traditional potato varieties that have been preserved and grown over many years. Unlike potatoes selected mainly for commercial production, heirloom varieties are often valued for their history, flavor, appearance, and unique growing characteristics. You may find heirloom potatoes in shades of purple, red, yellow, cream, and even combinations of different co...

When to Harvest Garlic Scapes: The Best Time for Bigger, Healthier Garlic Bulbs | Mad River Garlic G

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  Growing hardneck garlic is a great experience because the garlic scapes start growing early in the summer. Many gardeners ask when to harvest garlic scapes and if it matters. Many gardeners ask if it matters or when to harvest garlic scape s. The answer is yes. The ideal time to harvest garlic scapes is when the garlic plants are about 40% dry, which is around the time that bulbs are 3/4 done growing. Timing the harvest of garlic scapes is important to ensure the garlic plant puts more energy into bulbs than scapes, so harvest them when the garlic plants are about 4/5 finished growing and bulbs are about 3/4 finished growing, or when they are about 40% dry. We feel that if we knew what goes on in each phase of garlic growing we would have a more successful crop at Mad River Garlic Growers. If you're an avid gardener or a home cook, you might have questions about when it's best to harvest garlic scapes, and why they can make your kitchen a better place. What Are Garlic Scapes...