This year, we’ve been granted permission to leave the garden in place over winter. So, our first garlic has been planted! We chose a stiff-neck variety (Purple Glazer) and planted the largest cloves 6" apart in two 12" rows down the center of the 6′ x 9′ bed. The smaller cloves were planted somewhat closer together in a third row, which we plan to harvest as garlic scallions next spring.
In addition, the garden’s year-round status allowed us to plant our first perennial vegetable: Jerusalem Artichokes (or Sunchokes). Cultivated by Native Americans, this species of sunflower is prized for its sweet, nutty tubers and decorative flowers. Jerusalem Artichokes are a good source of potassium and iron, and are also more suitable for diabetics than potatoes because their carbohydrate is in the form of inulin.
