For me, one of the biggest keys that winter is here is when I plant our garlic. I’ve only lived in the Southern hemisphere for three years, and if I spend my life here, I don’t think I’ll ever get over winter beginning in June.
I have stopped really paying attention to what month it is in reference to the seasons, and have begun taking my cues from the tasks in the garden. I just fell in love with the idea of growing my own garlic and have done it each year since we came to New Zealand. The rule is to plant it on the shortest day of the year and harvest on the longest.
The first was a banner crop. Huge, fat cloves that I had to harvest early as we moved into 1 Victoria. This year I’ve planted thirteen rows and am using new methods such as mounding the plants and vow to keep them weed free (tips I’ve heard over and over.)
I’ve come a long way. Life is very different, in almost every way but I do enjoy the new rituals and celebrate the tasks the signal the change of season.
Happy start of June.