Garlic is mentioned in the Chinese Sanskrit writings as early as 3000 BC. Garlic is also mentioned in the Bible, was packed by the Vikings for long voyages, was considered an aphrodisiac in Elizabethan England and was an ingrediant in a compress applied on the field of battle during WWI.
Garlic is a staple of many cuisines. Its sharp flavor is used as a seasoning in all kinds of dishes throughout the world. Garlic is grown most often for the cloves but the young greens of the plant are also used in cooking: add them to salads or sauces the same way chives are used.
Garlic is grown vegetatively from a bulb, which is called a clove. The garlic bulb is not a true seed - it is not the product of sexual reproduction. Each clove will reproduce a bulb of garlic identical to the original bulb.
Garlic is divided into three types: stiff-neck (A. ophioscorodon), also known as hard-neck, soft-neck (Allium sativum), and elephant (A. ampeloprasum). Stiff-neck garlic has a central ring of cloves around a stiff central stem or neck. Soft-neck garlic does not have a hardened stock. Elephant garlic is known for it's milder flavor and much larger size. Elephant garlic is actually a close relative to leeks. Soft-neck and elephant garlic do not store as well as stiff-neck cultivars.
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Articles & Papers
The Farm & Garden library contains the following articles and papers on the subject of garlic:
- Growing Garlic by Farm & Garden
- Organic Garlic Production by Janet Bachmann
- Search for more
Forum Discussions
The Farm & Garden Forums are a great resource for getting answers to your questions about how to start, grow, water, harvest, and prepare garlic. Here are a few select discussions:
- harvesting garlic by squashnut
- The Agony of De-Garlic by gardenz
- Green garlic year round??? by garliclady
- Garlic a vegetable or herb by garliclady
- Green Garlic & garlic Scapes by garliclady
- Garlic Recipes "National Garlic Day" by garliclady
- National Garlic Day by garliclady
- all discussions involving garlic
Garlic Seeds
Here are a few sources of garlic seeds to get you started. Garlic seed isn't really a seed. It's actually a clove. One head of garlic will have many cloves and it is the cloves that we plant to get another head of garlic!
Tools, Equipment, and Supplies
Sometimes the right tool or the right gadget can make your task much easier and your time in the garden more productive. Here's a list of tools and equipment suppliers that may have what you're looking for.
- Gardener's Supply Company
- Thompson & Morgan
- GEMPLER'S Online Store
- Gardening tools from Amazon
- Irrigation supplies from Amazon
- Seeders from Amazon
- Garden Carts from Amazon
- Row covers from Amazon
- Greenhouses from Amazon
Books
Here are some books we found that might help you with your garlic.
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