The problem in composting garlic is similar to that in composting onion. Both bof these organic matters smell bad when added to the compost.
However, everything will go fine if you follow the right composting process and practice. In this article, we are going to look at the possibility of composting garlic.
Can You Compost Garlic?
Garlic may be composted regardless of how old or new it is. Garlic can be composted in its whole, including the cloves, skins, and scalps. To prevent re-sprouting, whole cloves should be broken up before composting.
Garlic can be composted, but there are a handful of reasons why you should avoid using it in excessive quantities in your compost.
Garlic, like everything else in the composting process, will eventually break down.
Garlic cloves are frequently mentioned when discussing garlic. Garlic has an independent personality.
So, if you’re going to add garlic to your compost, keep it to a minimum.
Why not replant your garlic cloves and cultivate more garlic for future use instead of composting them?
Garlic can also help keep rodents out of your compost container. Fresh garlic can discourage rodents, but dried garlic is ideal for this job.
Garlic is OK in a standard compost pile, but in high quantities, it can cause issues in wormeries since, like many strongly flavored/spicy foods, they don’t like to eat it, especially in the first few weeks.
(Alliums, such as onions and garlic, are toxic to worms in big quantities — it’s not just because they dislike garlic breath in case they come across other worms they like…)
Garlic is especially repulsive to mice, therefore using it to discourage rodents will only work at low levels of infestation.
Remember that garlic might influence worms that work in the compost, so make sure the equation is balanced. To get the best results, use powdered garlic to discourage mice.
When you are fortunate enough to obtain it, there is another type of garlic that can be used. These are the leaves of wild garlic.
They grow in wet, shady locations, such as along a tree-shaded river bank or in damp shaded woodlands, and are only available in the spring.
They’ll be ready to pick in approximately 6 weeks. They flower as the season continues, creating a striking white display to contrast with the dark deep green of the wild garlic leaves.
Read also: Can you compost raw onion?
Garlic Skin Can Also Go Into Compost
Garlic skins can be added to a compost pile and will decompose over time, but there are a variety of alternative uses for garlic skins to explore. They can be used in cooking as well as skincare.
Garlic skins and leaves have no detrimental effects on the bacteria in the compost pile. As a result, they can be composted. Garlic peel is beneficial to plants because it enriches compost and, as a result, the plants.
What are the benefits of Garlic?
Garlic is a very common cooking ingredient. Those who are familiar with it are aware of its numerous health benefits as well as the fact that it adds a unique flavor to a variety of foods.
Garlic has long been used to prevent and treat a variety of ailments and diseases. Garlic has been thought to have medicinal powers for thousands of years, and contemporary research has proved this.
Reference
- Response of garlic (Allium sativum L.) to vermicompost and mineral N fertilizer application at Haramaya, Eastern Ethiopia
- Appropriate Compost/Soil Ratios for Sustainable Production of Garlic (Allium sativum L.) under Mycorrhization in Pots Experiment
