Garlic is one of the most important members of the onion family. The herbaceous bulb is characterized by a pungent odor and is valuable as a natural antibiotic, antiseptic, pesticide, herbicide, and antibacterial. Garlic lowers blood pressure and cholesterol, and may prevent coronary heart disease, thrombosis, and arteriosclerosis. Despite all these wonderful benefits, garlic is still best known as a culinary seasoning. Garlic propagates easily and is one of the simplest plants to grow. Store-bought cloves will work just fine for starting a crop. August or early fall is considered the best time for sowing cloves, as this allows the roots time to develop before the first frost sets in.
To plant garlic, prepare soil with plenty of well-worked compost. Separated cloves should be placed 6 to 9 inches apart in evenly spaced rows. Make sure to leave enough room to allow for easy weeding, as garlic requires a weedless environment for best results. Push clove into loose, sticky soil pointed side up, about a finger length depth, and cover. Water moderately, being careful not to over water. Garlic needs about thirty days with the temperature below 50F, otherwise the bulb will have a tendency to remain whole rather than produce sections. New leaves will appear before winter and in the spring, plants will rapidly reach a height of 18 inches. When the leaves begin to yellow and turn brown, remove the plants and allow to dry. Once dry, cut the leaves and roots, and peel the dry outer layer before storing.