Jane Hanson - The Magical Powers Of Garlic: How To Use Garlic In Everyday Life To Improve Your Health And Looks

Garlic has been used by human civilization for thousands of years. It is scientifically referred to as Allium sativum , which makes it a part of the genus Allium . To put it simply, this means that garlic is closely related to onions and shallots. It also means that garlic is a bulb.

These plants can grow to be about 4 feet tall, and produces flowers as well. The origin of garlic has been traced back to southwestern Asia, where garlic and its descendants are still widely used. Garlic has hundreds of varieties, but is divided into two subspecies hard-necked garlic and soft-necked garlic the major difference between the subspecies is the weather in which they thrive and grow best.

There are numerous ways in which garlic can be used to benefit you. Hence, it would make a lot of sense to grow your own garlic, in your backyard. The process is relatively easy, and will prove to be advantageous for a really long time because of its multiple uses (which are elaborated upon in further chapters). Plus, growing garlic in your backyard means you will never run out of this flavorful ingredient that forms an integral part of many meals! The following series of steps must be followed if you wish to grow your own garlic:

1. To start with, you need to choose the type of garlic you want to plant. There are hundreds of varieties; however, the difference between many of them is too little for the common person to notice easily. Hence, you are merely expected to choose the kind of garlic that is best suited to the region you live in. The appropriateness of the match between garlic and your backyard can be determined by several factors such as weather, humidity, and the kind of soil (with the most important factor being the weather).

You can receive information about the same either at the local market or the nursery. If possible, try to get the seeds from them. This will help you obtain the plant best suited for your region.

1. Next, you need to find out which time of the year is best suited for you to plant the garlic. For most varieties it is either early spring, or mid-autumn hence, you need to follow climate charts and weather predictions to determine this.

1. Choose a spot in your backyard that allows a lot of sun to reach it. Dig the soil well and make sure the texture is crumbly. Soil with a high clay percentage is not advisable if you want to grow garlic. Also make sure that you add manure to the soil before you plant it.

1. Make sure you plant the larger cloves (also referred to as seeds) and that these cloves are not damaged at the base. Place the clove in the to a depth of about 5-6 cm, with the pointed tip of the clove pointing upwards. Cover the cloves with manure, or other forms of compost.

1. Make sure you water the plants regularly; this is because garlic plants require moisture in order to develop roots. However, you must make sure that the soil does not permanently stay wet or dries up, as this may result in stunted growth. Gradually reduce the water provided to the plant.

1. As garlic grows, the green stalks (called scapes) grow and form loops too. When these leaves start yellowing, it is a sign that the bulbs are mature and ready to be harvested. Another means of checking is being able to feel multiple cloves in a bulb. Harvesting season is usually the end of summer. After loosening the area around the bulb, pull it out wash it and let it dry for a few days.

1. Store garlic in a cool and dry place. This can be achieved through placing it in a pot, or by hanging braids of dried garlic (and its leaves) in a cool and dry place.

The next chapter shifts the focus from how to grow garlic, to the reasons to grow garlic.