Growing Gralics

GROW YOUR OWN GARLIC

Garlic is a member of the allium family which also includes leeks, shallots and onions.Garlic is one the easiest crops that you can grow. If ever there was a case of plant and forget, then garlic is it. It's just as easy to grow in pots as it is in the ground and it takes up so little ground that even those with very small gardens can raise enough to be self-sufficient in garlic for a good part of the year. So read on step-by-step guide to plant your own organic, super-tasty garlic. You'll be enjoying superb home-grown flavour in no time.

Planting And Growing Garlic

• Garlic is grown from the individual cloves. Each clove will produce one plant with a single bulb - which may in turn contain up to twenty cloves. Growing garlic is therefore self-sustaining.
• Gently separate your bulbs into individual cloves.
• For the best bulbs of garlic, plant at the right time. The rule of thumb is to plant close to the autumn or fall when the days start shortening and the nights become cooler.
• When planting garlic, choose a garden site that gets plenty of sun and where the soil is not too damp. Dig a small hole for each clove. Prepare your soil in advance by adding quality compost or manure.
• Plant the cloves about 8cm deep with the pointy end up, then gently back-fill around the clove and cover the hole with mulch.
• In as little as 2 weeks the first shoots will appear.Garlic has a small, shallow root system, so keep yours well watered in spring, especially in May and June when the cloves are developing. Then stop watering in July to allow the foliage to die back before harvest. 
• For best harvests, feed your garlic a balanced, supplemental fertilizer in early spring and again in mid-spring.If your garlic starts to bloom, remove the scapes before the buds have a chance to open. This makes the plant put more energy into the clove (so you have better harvests). Plus, the scapes have a mild garlic flavor. Saute them in a little butter or olive oil for a taste of what's to come.

Planting Garlic In Containers

• To plant garlic bulbs in containers, choose deep container with a circumference of at least 6 inches and fill them with a high-quality, well drained potting mix (add some sand if necessary).
•  It is important to use deep pots to enable garlic to grow fine,since it has deep roots that search down deep for water. 
• Plant one garlic clove per pot in an upright position , no deeper than 1 ½ inches below the surface of the potting mix.
•  Water the pots well and place them outside in a sunny location.

Harvesting and Storage

• As garlic reaches maturity, the leaves will brown then die away. This is the clue that it is time to harvest your garlic crop. 
• If you harvest too early the cloves will be very small, too late and the bulb will have split.
• When it's time to harvest, carefully dig up the bulbs, being careful not to separate the cloves.
• Proper handling of garlic after it's been picked is almost as important as looking after it whilst it's growing. It's essential that garlic is dried properly, otherwise it will rot. 
• The bulbs are often hung up in a cool, dry place. After a week or so, take them down and brush the dirt off gently - don't wash the bulbs at this stage.Store garlic in a cool spot (less than 40 degrees F.) until you can use it. 
• Properly cured garlic will usually hold for about 6 months.

Few Health Benefits Of Garlic

• Detoxifies- Garlic has been used effectively against a whole host of bacteria, fungus, and viruses.It detoxifies and cleanses the body effectively.
• Lowers cholesterol- Garlic lowers total cholesterol and triglyceride levels by up to 20 mg/dL in humans.
• Thins blood- Garlic supplements lowers the blood cholesterol levels and prevents the formation of blood clots in the body. It protects the blood vessels and heart from the harmful effects of free oxygen radicals.
• Is an anti-oxidant- Garlic increases the overall antioxidant levels of the body.It decrease serum glucose and blood pressure while increasing antioxidants.
• Inhibits cancer- Presence of allyl sulfur found in garlic can slow down the progress of cancerous cell growth.

Garlic Chicken Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 heads garlic, cloves separated
• 8 chicken drumsticks (about 2 1/2 pounds), skin removed, trimmed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup white wine
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth
• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
• 2 teaspoons all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup chopped fresh chives or scallion greens

Preparation

• Lightly smash garlic cloves with the side of a large knife to loosen the skins. Peel; cut larger ones in half. Sprinkle chicken with 1/4 teaspoon salt and pepper.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 2 minutes. Remove to a plate with a slotted spoon.
• Add chicken to the pan and cook until browned on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn it over and return the garlic to the pan. Add wine and cook for 1 minute.
• Whisk broth, mustard, flour and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Add the mixture to the pan; bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to maintain a lively simmer. Cover and cook until the chicken is cooked through, 8 to 10 minutes. Serve sprinkled with chives (or scallion greens).