How to successfully grow wild garlic

Wild garlic is an aromatic and medicinal plant reaching 30 to 40 cm in height and bearing umbels of white flowers between April and May.

Wild garlic is a plant native to Europe and Asia, where it grows wild in cool, shady undergrowth. It has been known to humans for thousands of years, as traces of it have been found in dwellings dating back to the Neolithic period. The Germans and Celts consumed wild garlic for its medicinal properties, and in the Middle Ages, the plant was considered a "magic plant" by practitioners of white magic.

The taste of wild garlic is reminiscent of garlic, but more peppery.

Rich in vitamin C and sulfurous essential oils.

It is called Bear's Garlic because legend has it that it is the first thing bears eat after hibernation to purge themselves.

• Difficulty level : 3/3.
• Density : 7 plants/m².
• Life cycle : Perennial.
• Method of reproduction : Sexual or vegetative by division of bulbils (take the peripheral bulbils then replant).
• Type of pollination : Self-pollinating.
• Weight per 1000 seeds : 7.7 g

• Climate zone and hardiness : Wild garlic adapts to all types of French climates.
• Soil type : Fresh, deep, humus-rich soil.
• pH : Neutral soil.
• Moisture : Well-drained soil.
• Exposure : Partial shade.
• Temperature : Wild garlic is very hardy and can withstand negative temperatures down to -15°C.
• Frost resistance : Wild garlic is a perennial plant that survives frost. It disappears during the winter and summer, but its root system is still present; it will reappear in the spring.

• Soil preparation : Loosen the soil before planting, enrich with compost and weed.
  
• Transplanting : No transplanting is necessary.
  Watering :
  • Frequency: Regular watering.
  • Quantity: Moderate watering.
  • Period: Only during drought.
• Tools : Watering can.
• Weeding : Regular weeding is recommended.
• Hoeing / weeding / earthing up / mulching : Lay down a thick layer of mulch once planting has been completed to keep the soil cool and protect the bulbs from frost.
• Winter protection : Wild garlic does not require any winter protection, except for mulching during the winter.
• Harvest period : From March to June from the second year of cultivation.
• Part of the plant : The leaves, flowers and also the bulbs of wild garlic are eaten.

Sowing is tricky and germination is irregular. The exposure must be shaded, in fresh, humus-rich soil. Thin out only from the second year to leave only one plant 20 cm apart in any direction. Being deciduous, it disappears in winter and summer then reappears in spring. Mulching is necessary to keep the stump frost-free and limit water evaporation during dry periods.

• Method : Harvest leaves and flowers as needed.
• Shelf life : Wild garlic can be stored freshly cut in the refrigerator for a few days, or frozen for several days. Dried, the leaves can also be chopped and stored in airtight jars for several months.

• Culinary: Wild garlic flavors broths, sauces, butter, and pesto. It also pairs well with mixed salads. Be careful, it loses its aroma when cooked. It is best added to hot dishes at the end of preparation.