Spring Garlic & Green Garlic: The MVPs of Early Harvest Season
Spring is here, and your garden is waking up! If you planted garlic last fall, congrats—you’ve got spring garlic and green garlic making their grand entrance. If you forgot to plant garlic in the fall (oops), don’t worry—green garlic is here to save the day.
But what do you do with these little garlicky wonders? Oh, my friend, so much. Let’s dig in.
First, What Even Is This Stuff?
Green Garlic = Baby garlic. Think scallions but with a mild garlicky kick. No bulb yet, just vibes.
Spring Garlic = A rebellious teenager. It’s growing a bulb but hasn’t reached full garlicky adulthood. Still tender, still delicious.
Basically, it’s like catching garlic in its early years before it goes full-flavored powerhouse.
How to Use Spring & Green Garlic (Because You Absolutely Should)
1. Treat It Like a Garlicky Scallion
Chop it up and toss it in salads, eggs, or over avocado toast. It’s fresh, slightly sweet, and makes everything taste like you know what you’re doing in the kitchen.
2. Make a Lazy Garlic Pesto
Who needs basil when you’ve got green garlic? Blend it with olive oil, nuts, Parmesan, and lemon for an instant flavor upgrade. Smear it on bread, pasta, or straight onto your face (okay, maybe not that last one).
3. Toss It in Stir-Fries Like a Pro
Green garlic + a sizzling hot pan = flavor magic. It cooks fast and adds just the right amount of garlic punch without overpowering your dish.
4. Whip Up Some Garlicky Butter
Finely chop green garlic and mix it into softened butter. Spread it on everything. Toast? Yes. Steak? Absolutely. Corn on the cob? Game-changer.
5. Roast It Whole for a Sweet Surprise
Spring garlic bulbs get soft, sweet, and spreadable when roasted. Just slice off the top, drizzle with olive oil, and roast until it turns into garlic candy.
6. Pickle It Like a Kitchen Witch
Chop up those spring garlic stalks and bulbs, toss them in vinegar, and let them sit. You now have a tangy, crunchy topping that makes sandwiches, tacos, and salads ten times better.
How to Use It in the Garden (Because We Love a Multi-Purpose Plant)
1. Chop & Drop It as Instant Mulch
Too much green garlic? Chop it up and let it break down around your plants. It’s like composting, but with zero effort.
2. Let Some Grow for a Surprise Garlic Harvest
Not in a rush? Leave a few plants alone and let them grow into full bulbs by summer. Boom—future you just got free garlic.
3. Scare Off Pests Like a Garden Guardian
Plant extra garlic among your veggies. It’s basically the bouncer of the garden, keeping pests like aphids and slugs faraway.
Spring and green garlic are wildly underrated. They’re fresh, mild, and make everything taste amazing. Whether you’re cooking up something delicious or putting them to work in your garden, don’t sleep on these early-season MVPs.
Now, go forth and be dangerously garlicky! What’s your favorite way to use them? Drop a comment—I’m always looking for more ways to sneak garlic into every meal.