Cape Garlic is a bulbous plant with a spicy flavor. The German name clarifies the intense aroma of the plant. The variety of names also refers to the origin and the growth character. Since the ornamental species is not hardy, it is not recommended to plant the plant in the ground. As a container plant, you can place indoor garlic indoors in winter, protected from frost. Leaves and blossoms are best used for seasoning. Chopped up, the special plant can be used like wild garlic for herb butter, pesto, dips, salads or quark. Compared to garlic, the herb has the advantage that the body vapors are not as prominentare. Therefore, Tulbaghia violacea is a great alternative to garlic. Tulbaghia belongs to the Alliaceae family (Alliaceae), which, as bee pasture with a long flowering period, is very valuable for many insects. In this post, you will learn how to take care of cape garlic. You can buy this and many other herbs in our shop.

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Things to know about Cape Garlic

Botanical name: Tulbaghia violacea
Other names: house garlic, wild garlic, capsicum, South Sea garlic, cap lily, garlic cap lily, garlic herb, garlic grass, society garlic, garlic grass, cape garlic
Use: perennial shrub, for salads, soups, quark, egg dishes, sauces, fish dishes, bee pasture, aromatic plant
Origin: South Africa
Flower colors: purple, lilac, pink
Flowering period: May to October
Special features: This special feature can be kept and harvested as a houseplant all year round. As a container plant, the perennial is decorative on balconies and terraces from May to October. Permanent planting is not recommended.

In which location does wild garlic feel most comfortable?

All leek species prefer a soil that is always slightly moist but never overwatered. The spice plants grow best in a sunny to semi-shady and warm location. Make sure the soil is loose and can store nutrients well. Indoor garlic can also be planted in balcony boxes or in large containers on the terrace without any problems. It is important that when planting in containers, a drainage layer is provided. From November you should set up the perennial protected from frost. The species, also known as garlic herb, can also be in a bright spot in the room all year round.

How do I care for my Tulbaghia?

The perennials are easy to care for and grow vigorously and robustly without much effort. After purchase, you can place Tulbaghia violacea in a larger container or in the window box. Planting in the ground is also possible. However, it should be noted that the plants, unlike wild garlic or chives, only last one season in the garden. One possibility is to dig up the rootstock in autumn and store it in a frost-free place in winter. Make sure that the temperatures never rise above 10 degrees Celsius, the plants can stand dry and the place can be dark. Outdoor harvesting is possible from May to October. If the house garlic is in the house, it can grow all year roundto be harvested. Fresh greens can be used directly or preserved in a variety of ways. If your plant has purple flowers, you can use them as an edible decoration, they are decorative and tasty at the same time. Or you can leave the purple flowers perched on long stalks on the perennial, providing a valuable food source for bees and other insects. For lush growth, it is important that you provide the perennial plant with an organic fertilizer at the beginning of vegetation. A second fertilization can be done in summer. You can regularly remove dead leaves and wilted flowers.

How do I water my house garlic?

Basically, unlike wild garlic or chives, the species requires well-drained soil that is never too wet. It is therefore important that you use herb soil that is loose in structure when transplanting into a pot. Make sure the pot has a drainage hole and a drainage layer. The frequency of how often you have to water depends mainly on the temperature, the radiation, the volume of the soil and the leaf mass. Moist soil is good, but it should never become too wet.

How do I harvest and use my wild garlic?

When harvesting Tulbaghia violaceae, use scissors to cut off the leaves. With good growth, you can harvest the herb continuously in summer (in contrast to wild garlic, which is only available for a few weeks). Garlic is versatile and goes well with all hot and cold dishes. Quark, salad, vegetables and soups in particular get their special flavor from the addition. Optimum ways to preserve the flavor include making pesto and flavoring oil or vinegar.

What pests and diseases can house garlic get?

Garlic lilies are extremely robust and healthy, and with proper care they are very rarely attacked by pests or diseases. Because of the scent, Tulbaghia planted in the garden can be helpful against moles. If the site or climatic conditions are not right, the following abnormalities can occur.

FAQ – Frequently asked questions about the cap lily

How can I preserve the herb?

House garlic tastes very intense fresh when it is fresh, and if it is growing well in the summer, you can also harvest it in advance. After harvesting, the herb is finely chopped and frozen in small portions. The variant of freezing in ice cube trays has proven itself. In this way, the green can be easily removed in portions and used directly. On the other hand, many aromatic substances are lost during drying, so this is not recommended. You can use fresh greens to flavor vinegar or oil and enjoy the flavor all year round. The preparation of pesto is also a good way to use up large quantities.

How is room garlic propagated?

In addition to sowing, division is a common method of propagating the herb. Divide large plants and replant the sections. Propagation by seeds takes a little longer than division, but is quite possible. Sow the seed in early spring if possible and plant the seedlings in larger pots after a few weeks.

Are the purple flowers edible?

In addition to the leaves, the magical flowers are also a treat. Both have an intense garlic aroma and enrich all vegetables, quark, tomatoes and much more.

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