Allium sativum; those basically white, bulbous shaped, paper wrapped bundles of joy called Garlic.  Easily recognizable in the produce section even before you break them down into cloves.  The garlic bulb grows underground and the growth above ground looks typically onion like.  Whether you are going to use individual cloves or bake the entire bulb – garlic should be a staple in your kitchen.

Personally, I can’t cook without garlic.  What is a vinaigrette without some fresh garlic bite to it?  How can one cook pork without it?  How can you make spaghetti sauce without garlic?  So many dishes benefit from these little cloves.  Meats, sauces, stuffing, soups will all take a taste of either fresh or powdered garlic. Chili sauce is lost without garlic, as is teriyaki sauce or curry. Aged Black Garlic, 1.27-Ounce Packages (Pack of 2)

Medicinally and nutritionally garlic is really good for you.  Garlic is reputed to help cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and cancer.  That is one super hero fighting spice, eh?  Garlic also has antibacterial, antiviral and fungus fighting abilities.  Records over 6000 years old have medicinal “cures” recorded based on garlic. History shows garlic was used as medicine before it was used as a spice.  

Historically, garlic comes to us from central Asia where it still grows wild.  Garlic because it is easily stored traveled quickly in to the Mediterranean, Africa and Europe.  Garlic was used by the Egyptians both medicine and in the kitchen.  Today, despite wild cultivars there are two main types of garlic.  Softneck or sativum and Hardneck or Ophioscorodon.  Hardneck and softneck are both recognizable because of the structure of the cloves around the center stalk.  Softneck (most common and found in all stores) has multiple layers of cloves around the center.  Hardneck will only have one row of cloves surrounding the center.  Softneck is milder in taste but stores better than softneck making it the choice of commercial growers.

Growing garlic could not be easier.  You take the best of the heads from you previous harvest, break them into cloves and plant tip up. Walk away until next spring when they will be some of the first growth you see in your garden.  Water regularly and fertilize lightly.  Near July 4th (average date) the growth above ground hardneck garlic will produce curly scapes and softneck will start to yellow.  This is your sign to de-scape and stop watering,  Two weeks later, gently uproot the bulbs and allow to cure with good air circulation.  Pick your best bulbs for next year and consume the rest.   Full cycle with minimum fuss. If you don’t have your own source of bulbs for planting, look for local stock.

Interesting Facts:

Softneck garlic will braid, hardneck will not.

Almost all parts of the garlic plant are edible, including the scapes produced in spring.

Other names for hardneck garlic include, romcambole, purple stripe or porcelain garlic

Other names for softneck garlic include, silverskin, creole or artichoke garlic.

China is the largest commercial producer of garlic; growing about 23 billion lbs annually.

There are parts of Europe that have “Protected Geographical Status” to preserve their garlics uniqueness.

Elephant garlic is not really garlic, it is a form of leek.