Since the day I started the idea of homesteading, I have been trying to discover crops that suit the land and climate, as well as the effort I can put in. After trying many things, I found that garlic is one of the crops that really deserves attention, and I started to focus on it more and see its results on the ground.
The cultivation experience and initial results
Garlic turned out to be relatively easy to grow, it does not need strenuous care like some other crops. Just good soil, a little sun, and regular watering without excess, and that's it! What I liked about it is that it is not affected by insects and pests to a large extent, and this saved me a lot of problems that I used to face with other crops.
Benefits of planting garlic not only for consumption
In addition to planting it for personal food, I discovered that it has other very useful uses. It can be easily sold if the production is more than needed, and it also works as a natural pesticide for some harmful insects when planted next to other crops. It's not only a food crop, but it's also a natural protection factor for crops.
Challenges I faced
Of course, nothing is without challenges, and the biggest problem was that garlic takes a relatively long time to grow, and it requires patience. Also, the planting timing must be correct to give the best productivity, and this is something I learned through experience. Other than that, I found that preparing the soil at the beginning makes a big difference in the final result.
Is it a profit?
So far, I see it as a profit in terms of little effort and good return, especially if one thinks of planting larger quantities and selling them. Of course, it's enough for one to be assured that he has natural garlic, free of chemicals, and grown by one's own hands.
The journey continues
Homesteading is not just an experiment, it's an ongoing journey with nature and learning from mistakes. Garlic will definitely not be the last crop I try, but so far it has been one of the most successful crops I have grown, and I will continue with it and see what new things I can learn from it!
