No. 167: Warm Christmas hugs and a smashing New Year

The onion family is large and the flavors are diverse, but many a meal gets that extra "bite" with a hint of garlic.

Almost all garlic varieties – and other tasty, perennial alliums – can be planted throughout the winter, as long as the bulbs or cloves are still in good condition. The latter is actually the only real criterion. Our most popular variety, 'Morado de Pedronera' (the Spanish cousin of Rose de Lautrec), is even available year-round.

Is the autumn harvest not quite to your liking yet? No problem: you can safely leave garlic in the ground. In France, you sometimes see impressive clusters of conjoined bulbs forming in old garlic fields. To prevent our bulbs from deteriorating, we are now holding a small clearance sale of our alliums.

The clearance package contains a varied selection of garlic and special alliums, such as rocambole, Russian garlic, sand leeks, and Persian shallots.

The Hori Hori knife first appeared in Japan around our Middle Ages, in the 13th or 14th century. The word "hori" means "to dig" in Japanese, and that's precisely what this special tool excels at. Thanks to its curved, serrated, and razor-sharp blade, it effortlessly cuts through roots and tough soil.

This versatile gardening tool combines the functions of a knife, saw, and digging tool in one. It is ideal for transplanting seedlings and also surprisingly useful for planting flower bulbs, thanks to the centimeter and inch markings on the blade that allow you to easily measure the correct planting depth. The Hori Hori knife comes with a sturdy sheath, so you can easily attach it to your belt and always have it at hand.

A true thistle, with substantial prickles, but impressively beautiful from a distance. The glossy green leaves are spiky and striking due to their white spots and veins. At the top, large lilac-pink flower heads proudly display themselves, surrounded by characteristic prickles. This annual plant grows up to 1.5 meters tall and has been cultivated for centuries as a medicinal herb, traditionally used to support the liver.

Besides its beautiful flowers, Echinacea has several medicinal properties. Topically, it is often incorporated into ointments, while internally it is traditionally used for its supportive effect in infections. It is even said to contribute to improved resistance to common colds.

In the past, bleached dandelion leaves were sought in molehills in the spring, hence the name Molsla (mole lettuce). Through selection, this leafy type has been obtained, which is also slightly less bitter than the wild dandelion. Its traditional medicinal properties are: liver and gallbladder support, good for digestion, and anti-inflammatory and cooling.

A very old cultivated crop with thick, woody roots, from which licorice and candy are traditionally made. Above ground, the plant is also a feast for the eyes: the loosely growing, pinnate leaves are crowned at the top by a cluster of light pink butterfly flowers. Licorice is known for its refreshing effect on the airways and grows to a height of approximately 1 meter.

Who isn't familiar with the delightful scent of thyme…? This versatile seasoning suits almost any dish, especially hearty meals, as thyme stimulates digestion. Furthermore, thyme is known for its supportive effect on the respiratory system and its expectorant properties. Place the plant in a dry and sunny spot and regularly trim the sprigs with dark green leaves; this will keep the plant constantly regenerating itself. Please note: a harsh winter in a wet spot can be fatal for thyme.

Our Belgian grower has - in addition to sweet potatoes - also delighted us with various varieties of Oca. They are not yet well-known in the Netherlands and Belgium, but in New Zealand, these colorful tubers are extremely popular.

Ocas have a fresh, slightly sweet and sour taste and are versatile in the kitchen: delicious raw in salads, but also boiled, stir-fried or even deep-fried.

You can pre-order now, but you will have to wait a little longer for the plants: they are not winter-hardy.

In recent years, sweet potatoes have become increasingly well-known and popular. Many people use them in the kitchen to make fries, grilled vegetables, mash, or of course baked potatoes. The choices are truly abundant, and in my opinion, they are delicious to cook with. Our Belgian grower has been working for years to cultivate the best and tastiest varieties for our outdoor or greenhouse climate.

From May onwards, you can plant sweet potato cuttings outdoors. During that period, we sell a lot of plants, but growing them yourself is also a lot of fun to try, and you do that at home from a tuber. You can get many cuttings from one tuber, and we explain how on our website.