It's Time to Plant Garlic

Did you know that 73 percent of the garlic consumed in the United States is grown in China. This baffles me, primarily because garlic is so incredibly easy to grow and requires such little maintenance.  

There are two varieties of garlic: softneck (the kind you can braid the stalks) and hardneck (which produces edible garlic scapes). Both will grow well in our southern climate.

Along with onions, shallots and leeks, garlic is a member of the genus allium. Garlic has countless health benefits and has been found to have antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal activity.  Garlic has a powerful antioxidant effect and is also touted against the prevention of heart disease and cancer and can assist people in the management of blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

The history of garlic is truly fascinating and been used throughout history for both culinary and medicinal purposes.  

Garlic is mentioned in the Bible and the Talmud.  Hippocrates, Galen, Pliny the Elder and Dioscorides all mention the use of garlic for many conditions, including parasites, respiratory problems, poor digestions and low energy.  

In 1858, Louis Pasteur noted garlic's antibacterial activity; it was used as an antiseptic to prevent gangrene during World War I and II.  Garlic cloves are used as a remedy for infections (especially chest problems) digestive disorders, and fungal infections.

Planting garlic is easy; garlic prefers full sun and loose, loamy, weed-free soil with plenty of organic matter.  Using a bulb in good condition (you can buy seed garlic locally at Farmer D's Organics or use a few from last season's crop), break it apart into individual sections, leaving the papery layer around each clove. Each planted clove of garlic will produce one bulb.

Dig small holes approximately four to six inches apart and two to three inches deep and place an individual clove, with the pointy tip up, into the hole and cover with soil.  

Spread a six-inch layer of organic mulch, such as pine or wheat straw, leaves, or newspaper over the entier area. Mulching your garlic will protect against the cold, helps moderate soil temperatures, keeps weeds in check and conserves overall soil moisture. 

Within six to eight weeks, shoots may emerge; don't fret, the plant will stop growing once the soil gets cold enough, and growth will resume in the spring.

Garlic plants are easily grown in containers of sufficient enough depth using the same method stated above.

I planted garlic in my plot at the Jones Bridge community garden last November, and wholla, to my delight, this past June, every single one of the cloves I planted beautifully emerged and were ready for harvest. I saved several to plant this season.

After curing (leave them in a sunny spot until well dried out- for me, it was indoors near a window in my laundry room), they are ready for storage, where they will keep anywhere from two to eight months or longer.

Garlic is best stored in a dark, indoor room between 55-70 degrees with moderate humidity and good air circulation.  Do no store garlic in the refrigerator (excess cold leads to sprouting) or in plastic bags (no air=high humidity=rot).

Gardening just doesn't get much easier (and tastier) than this.

Do you have a recipe that uses fresh garlic that you'd like to share with your Peachtree Corners neighbors?