The Cool Down
Expert gardener shares 'ancient secret' for thriving plants: 'Wish I had known …
This gardener shared a TikTok video revealing the best and most useful part of the garlic plant: the bulbils.
51
2k
307
13k
Unlocking the Secrets of Garlic: Bulbils Offer Larger, Disease-Free Harvests
Gardening expert Mike Hoag recently shared a valuable insight into cultivating hardneck garlic, focusing on the often-overlooked garlic scape and its hidden treasures: garlic bulbils. According to Hoag, these small, pearl-like structures found within the scape are not only edible but also possess a unique flavor profile that is sweeter and milder than traditional garlic cloves, while retaining significant medicinal properties. Hoag demonstrated how to harvest and utilize these bulbils, suggesting they can be sautéed in butter or olive oil to create a delicious and aromatic addition to meals. Beyond their culinary appeal, the gardener emphasized a significant benefit for growers: garlic bulbils are naturally disease-free. This characteristic makes them an ideal and cost-effective alternative to purchasing new seeds, offering growers seed independence. Furthermore, Hoag stated that garlic bulbs grown from these bulbils tend to be, on average, one-third larger than those grown from conventional garlic seeds. While it may take one to three years for garlic grown from bulbils to reach full maturity, the long-term benefits of increased yield and disease resistance present a compelling case for gardeners to incorporate this ancient secret into their cultivation practices.
