Alho-Social-Tulbaghia VioLacea-Blog

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Him Garlic-social It is a plant used for ornamental purposes since it has flowers with a light aroma of garlic, as well as being very resistant and can be planted in both tropical and subtropical regions.

Social garlic is a herbaceous, bulbous, shrub and flowery plant, originally from South Africa and widely used in the gardens for its ornamental qualities and low maintenance.

Scientific name: Tulbagia Morada
Popular names: Ajo Social, Tulbalgia
Family: Amaryllidaceae
Category: Bulb, herbs, flowers, perennial flowers, covered with sun, grass and terrestrial roofs, medicinal plants, horticultural plants.
Climate: Mediterranean, subtropical, temperate, tropical
Origen: South Africa
Height: From 0.1 to 0.6 meters
Incandescent: Full sun
Vital cycle: Perennial plants

Speaking of garlic-social

Him garlic-social or Garlic It is a kind of perennial plant that belongs to the family AmaryllidaceaeThe same that includes other plants such as common garlic (Allium Sativum) and onion (ALLIUM tension). This plant is less known than common garlic, but has unique characteristics that make it interesting both for gardeners and chefs.

Característica of the ajo-social (social garlic)

• Habit of growth: Garlic-social grows in the form of small clusters, which differentiates it from common garlic, which usually grows as individual bulbs. Often it produces several small bulbs that are combined by a single radical system. This gives him its «social» characteristic, as it grows in groups or «companies» of interconnected bulbs.
• Flores: Like other species of the genus Alium, garlic-social produces sphere-shaped flowers, usually white or pink. The flowers are grouped in Umbélula and emerge at the end of long and thin stems, which are distinguished from the leaves.
• Leaves: The leaves of this plant are elongated and linear, bright green. They develop from the base of the plant and are smaller than those of the other members of the genus Alium.

Cultivation conditions

• Luz: Garlic-social prefers sunny or partial shadow. It needs direct exposure to the sun for optimal growth, although it can also tolerate some shadow.
• Flooring: This plant requires well drained soils, slightly acidic or neutral. It prefers rich lands in organic matters and with a good drainage capacity. If the soil is heavy or clayey, it is recommended to modify it with sand or compost to improve ventilation and drainage.
• Irrigation: Although the-led-social is relatively resistant to drought, it is recommended to water it regularly, but without flooding the ground, especially during periods of active growth. Excessive irrigation can cause rot.
• Temperature: This plant is resistant to a wide range of temperatures, but develops better in temperate climates. It can support light frosts, but in regions with colder winters it is advisable to protect it from low extreme temperatures.

Care and maintenance

• Fertilization: Garlic-social does not need frequent fertilization, but can benefit from a balanced fertilizer during its growth season. The use of compost or organic fertilizers in spring can improve plants performance.
• Pruning: Although the-led-social does not require regular pruning, the dried flowers can be removed to keep the floor ordered and promote a longer lasting flowering.
• Multiplication: The-social garlic is mainly reproduced by a bulb division. As a mature plant, the bulbs separate and can be planted in new positions to start new plants.

Use of garlic-social

• Culinary: Although it is not commonly cultivated as common garlic, garlic-social has a similar flavor and aroma, although generally softer. You can use your bulbs and leaves in the kitchen to add flavor to soups, salads, stews and other dishes. Tender sprouts can also be consumed as aromatic herb.
• Ornamental: Due to its decorative flowers, social garlic is also cultivated in the gardens as an ornamental plant. Its floral spheres, which often have white or pink tones, create a beautiful contrast with other plants in the garden.
• Medicinal properties: Like common garlic, garlic-social contains sulfur compounds that can have antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Traditionally, some people use social garlic to treat conditions similar to those involved in common garlic, although its use in medicine is not so documented.

• Its leaves are long and ahusada, like the tapes.
• They are fleshy, with a strong aroma of garlic and dark green, in the typical shape.
• It is a herbaceous plant, with a perennial life cycle (lives more than a year), which measures an average of 40 to 60 cm.

Him garlic-social It is a constant presence in the designed gardens, since it is a very versatile plant, easy to take care and extremely beautiful and effective. This delicate and elegant plant can form Maximi or Foruras in full sun.

Their inflorescences are modeled by Umbbela and appear in high peduncles on the foliage.

Its flowers, of six petals that form a star, are tubular, gently fragrant and lilac or white.

The fruits are triangular capsules that, if ripe, open naturally by releasing black seeds.

How to take care of social garlic

• Thanks to its resistance at different temperatures and in the sun, this plant can be grown in the garden, where it will supply coverage of about half a meter and fragrant flowers of different colors.
• It can also be cultivated in cold places or pots, although due to its appearance it is usually not usually used within small vessels, but in large quantities in large surfaces.
• The well -paid land should be used with organic fertilizers and, in the case of regions with very poor soils, enriched with fertilizers rich in phosphorus to encourage flowering.
• It is also advisable to have a soil with a good drainage so that an excessive accumulation of water does not favor the development of fungal diseases.
• Plider them with a distance of about ten centimeters between each seedling to facilitate the development of the plant during its youth. Over time, the garden will be filled, covering the empty spaces.
• It should be cultivated in full sun, on fertile, light, drainage, enriched with organic substance and regularly watering.
• Although it grows in semi -formed places, it will pros up less in these places and will grow with less vigor.

Tolerate the cold, but you have to protect it from strong frosts.

Resistant to short periods of drought. It does not tolerate the stagnation of prolonged water.

Fertilize monthly during spring and summer for intense flowering. Headed every 3 or 4 years that enriches the substrate. It is easily multiplied by seeds or dividing the threads during the winter.

I knew …

The genre includes about twenty species, almost all natives of South Africa, where they grow in rocky mountain environments.

Some authors argue that this plant belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, included in the subfamille of Allioidae, others include it together with onion and garlic (of the genus Allium) in the Alliaceae family.

It seems that the common name «social garlic» is connected to its edible use, taking into account the fact that if ingested it does not cause halitosis, unlike common garlic.