Ramson - a most valuable wild plant, used since ancient times in cooking and traditional medicine. According to archaeologists, wild garlic was eaten more than 5,000 years ago. Its unique properties were valued in ancient Rome and in the medieval states of Europe.
Today wild garlic is still loved and revered in the widest territories, although in different regions this word means plants of various species. In Europe, the Caucasus and Asia Minor wild garlic - bear onions. That is how its specific name is translated from Latin. And in the Urals and Altai, Siberia and Kamchatka, in Mongolia, Japan, China and even in North America, wild garlic is called victorious onion, a much more common species. The habitat of these two onions closes in the Caucasus, where they both meet.
Externally, these plants are very similar. Perennial, similar in appearance to lily of the valley, with a spicy aroma and taste resembling garlic and onions at the same time, they are the first to appear in the forests from under the snow. And the bears and other animals, and after them the people, are trying to restore strength after a long winter with this early green. This is not surprising, because wild garlic is the richest source of essential oils, vitamins and valuable nutrients. For example, it contains 10 times more vitamin C than lemon!
In recent years, an increasing number of people are thinking about how to grow wild garlic in their own area. On the one hand, the bear bow was endangered due to mass gathering. On the other hand, there is less and less desire to collect wild wild garlic due to the activity of ticks. So it turns out to be more profitable and safer to grow a useful plant yourself.
How to grow wild garlic in your garden
For planting wild garlic, choose a flat area in the shade of trees, on which meltwater does not stagnate. Ramson, of course, loves the sun. But she manages to get enough light before the leaves appear on the trees. And in the summer, when the dormancy period begins for the bulbs, the wild garlic will be reliably hidden from drying out and overheating. Such a neighborhood is also useful for trees in the garden: the high phytoncid activity of wild garlic repels pests, its growth prevents the appearance of weeds.
The soil of a bear bow needs loose, processed 30-40 cm in depth, enriched with organic matter. These are conditions that are as close as possible to the natural environment of its growth. Before planting, it is advisable to add compost or rotted manure at the rate of a bucket / 1 m2, ammonium nitrate (15 g), superphosphate (30-40 g), potassium salt (15-20 g).
How to grow wild garlic vegetatively
Planting bulbs is the most preferred way to grow wild garlic. The bulb is planted so that the mesh sheath surrounding it is visible on the surface. A distance of 35-40 cm is maintained between the wells to avoid thickening of the planting for 4-5 years. But in each hole 1 - 2 bulbs are planted to guarantee survival. The wild garlic is transplanted from mid-July to mid-September. At this time, the plant is already at rest and manages to gain strength in a new place before the onset of cold weather.
How to grow wild garlic from seeds
In early July, wild garlic seeds gradually ripen and crumble, so it is important to collect them in a timely manner. Sow must be immediately, germination is lost very quickly.
Sow seeds to a depth of 2 - 3 cm in a well-loosened and slightly mulched moist soil. Shoots appearing in spring are very thin and delicate; they are easy to destroy when weeding or loosening. Therefore, for sowing, it is better to use a box with earth. In autumn, it can be buried on the site, covered with snow. Only in the third year the wild garlic from seeds will grow to a normal size.
Care for wild leek
The plant is unpretentious. With minimal care, a few years after planting, the reward will be a glade of wild garlic, the photo of which will be difficult to distinguish from wild thickets.
In the early spring, when the first wild garlic sprouts only appear, the area with plantings should be carefully cleaned from last year's leaves. The middle of April is the time for applying nitrogen fertilizer in solution (15-20 g of urea per bucket of water). At the end of flowering (May - June), fertilizing with full mineral fertilizer (wood ash at the rate of 30 g per bucket of water) is carried out.
Throughout the growing season, the soil is kept moist. Already in mid-July, when the leaves begin to turn yellow, watering must be stopped.
Every year, bulbs rise from the ground by 0.5 cm and take horizontal roots. Therefore, starting from the second year of growth, it is useful to sprinkle them with fallen leaves. A thin layer of flowering leaves will recreate the natural living conditions of the plant and will reduce the consumption of fertilizers.
In winter, with good snow cover, additional shelter is not required. If there is little snow, you can cover the plants with spruce branches, straw or fallen leaves.
As you see, it is not at all difficult to grow wild garlic. All efforts to care for landings are repeatedly paid for by its invaluable benefits.