Friday, April 1, 2022

The Planting of Spring Garlic 2022

 Wednesday April 27, 2022

It is great to go outdoors midweek, and I went to the farm to get some fresh air. 

I had opened the Purple Glazer Garlic - these was the last batch of our harvest from last year. To my surprise, they kept very well, in my cool basement. Some varieties did not do well, and it shriveled. 



                                                             cloves of the purple glazer garlic


                     using 1020 tray to plant garlic greens - ( re-used from last year) fits 20-25 pcs per tray

                                  i finished planting, and Kyle help me put snow over the trays (12 of them) 

So, I will check them out next week! 
~Angelina








Sunday, March 20, 2022

Elephant Garlic (Allium amperloprasum)

 March 20, 2022

Sunday

Ottawa, ON, Canada


Yesterday, I was at Produce Depot and I found a garlic - marked Elephant Garlic. I've hear of it, but never planted one. Being Asian, I love my garlic strong and I've heard that this garlic is quite mild. And DNA wise, this type of garlic is close relative of leeks instead of garlic. 

But then, I am curious, the size of this bulb is that of a tennis ball. So here are the pictures and I will plant these at the farm, and see what happens. 

Plant culture wise, it grows like garlic. So I will plant these, and report back. 

The label: Auerbach, Auerpack  -117 Seaview Drive, NJ - I check the website, it looks like the company is a packing and trucking company which is a good combination. 

(1 bulb, net wet 3 oz) 

~Angelina






Monday, February 21, 2022

Garlic Sprouts

 February 22, 2022

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada


I have no shortage of garlic, in fact my small to medium sizes are here in the basement. During winter season, I made some garlic sprouts, I used them to flavour soups, stir fries, and mix with scrambled egg. 

If you need some locally grown garlic, I sell them for 4 for 5$ or a 2lb bag at 25$. 

I used a regular glass, poured some pebbles or sand will do. I add some water. I made it so the garlic is sitting on top of the water, the roots usually go down to get the water. Once the water get low, i just added water. 


Note: make sure your garlic is sitting on top of water - not swimming in water, because it will rot. 






Location: Sweet William Farms 139 March Rd, Kanata, ON K2P 0P2

Email: sweetwilliamfarms@gmail.com
Instagram: sweetwilliamfarm


Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Our shopify store - Check it out! www.sweet-williamfarms.ca

 February 9, 2022 (Wednesday)

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

OUR SHOPIFY STORE: WWW.SWEET-WILLIAMFARMS.CA

Last year, we tried so hard to become digital citizens, to be able to put our store online so that it can display our products while we are working in the field. 

We have a Digital Marketing Specialist that helped us created the website. We are farmers, and we are trying to learn. The shelves are designed and we have meetings online. 

So, this is the result of the effort, we are not sure if it works fine, but try it out. Order a pack of seeds, and see what happens. 

If you have any questions, you can reach us at sweetwilliamfarms@gmail.com






Friday, December 31, 2021

Beans, Pole Beans - and Plan for 2022 Season

 Ottawa City, Ontario Canada

December 31, 2022


I would like to continue planting beans in the farm, as I grow first what I eat. I like stir fry beans, and boiled beans, and bean soup for winter. 


Sunday, November 7, 2021

Duganski - Garlic

 Duganski Garlic


Garlic -hardneck - purple stripe - Duganski

 Origin and History

This variety comes from Uzbekistan or Kazakhstan, regardless of the exact country, it seems certain that this variety comes from central Asia, the area that is reported to be the first place garlic was cultivated. Our seed stock was acquired from Great Lakes family farm near the Grand Bend, Lake Huron,  Ontario. 

Description : Full sun, Mid-season, purple stripe type, long storing, Pungent and really tall garlic

Allium sativum ssp ophioscorodon ‘Duganski’

Light Requirement: Full Sun

Growing Zone: 3-7

Harvest: Mid Summer

Plant Spacing:  10-15 cm or 4-6"

Plant Depth: 5-8 cm or 2-3"

Plant Height: 45-60 cm or 18-24"

This is a beautiful garlic with an amazing flavour, and comes in large bulb sizes. The cloves of this garlic are violet-tinged and with a purple outer wrapper. The flavour of this garlic can be described as being fiery, but will mellow out with a pleasant aftertaste. 

Duganski is a hardneck garlic variety, produces large bulbs, strong pungent flavor, and with cloves that are purple. This variety is a robust cultivar, grows taller than most varieties, has wider leaves, larger scapes and matures mid-season.

Plant the garlic bulb before the ground freezes. Pick a well-drained, rich, organic garden bed to plant into. Plant the pointed end of the clove up, 5-8 cm (2-3″) deep and 10-15 cm (4-6″) apart. Lightly cover with soil and water thoroughly. Cover with a layer of mulch such as leaves or straw to provide insulation from fluctuating temperatures in winter and spring. Remove the mulch in early Spring or keep it for weed control. 

 When the garlic breaks through the soil the following Spring it is recommended to add an all purpose fertilizer.

In late Spring snip the scapes from the head of the garlic plant to channel the energy to the bulb formation. Scapes are a delicious early season garlic treat.

The Garlic is ready to harvest when the leaves of the plant are 3/4 yellow and start to die back. Lift the soil around the garlic bulb before trying to remove the garlic from the soil. Pull the garlic from the soil and place the garlic in non-direct sunlight with good airflow to allow the garlic to dry for 7-10 days.

 After the garlic has cured you can trim the small roots on the bottom of the garlic and remove one layer of skin. Store in a dark cool area.








Saturday, November 6, 2021

Pumpkins, Straws and Leaves

PUMPKINS, STRAWS AND LEAVES


 The pumpkin this year is a welcome suprise. Among the pile of clay fill - it grows well. Last year 2020, our 120 plants yeilded nothing, save for some winter squash. 


This year 2021, we made some progress and we got 20 pumpkins at least. 


We also accept pumpkin donations to feed the farm wildlife. As a city farm, we have deer, turkeys, foxes,  birds, and small animals that need sustenance.  

We also compost them after to enrich our soil. 

We accept yardbags of leaves, straw and pumpkins to help the composting system and give back to the land. 

We thank all community members who help us feed the land and farm sustainably. 


The Planting of Spring Garlic 2022

 Wednesday April 27, 2022 It is great to go outdoors midweek, and I went to the farm to get some fresh air.  I had opened the Purple Glazer ...