growing garlic from store-bought cloves: tradition vs. new ways
When I was a child, my grandmother would plant garlic in our backyard every fall. She always used cloves from her own harvest, insisting that store-bought garlic was never as good. She said it was a family tradition, a way to keep our roots strong—literally and figuratively.
But times have changed. Last season, I decided to try planting garlic from the grocery store, despite warnings from neighbors and gardening forums. Some say it’s risky—store garlic might be treated to prevent sprouting, or it could bring in pests. Others argue it’s wasteful not to use what’s already in your kitchen, especially when prices are high and supply chains are shaky.
Here in the Midwest, our winters are harsh, and spring comes late. I worried the store-bought cloves wouldn’t survive the freeze. But I wanted to see for myself. I planted them next to my heirloom bulbs, just like my grandmother did, but with a modern twist.
This spring, I watched both rows push through the thawing soil. The store-bought garlic looked a little weaker at first, but with some extra mulch and patience, it caught up. Now, as I brush the dirt from the bulbs, I wonder: is it really so wrong to break with tradition? Or is adapting to what we have part of the gardener’s spirit?
Some of my friends say I’m disrespecting the old ways. Others say I’m being practical and resourceful. And then there’s the community garden, where rules about what you can plant spark heated debates—especially when it comes to non-native varieties or treated bulbs.
What do you think? Should we stick to family traditions, or embrace new methods in uncertain times? And is there really a right way to grow garlic in our unpredictable climate?
#gardeningdebate #familytradition #modernmethods #Gardening
