Garlic (sometimes known as 'Stinking Rose' or 'Poor Mans Treacle' has long been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It was certainly in use around 3000bc, as the six bulbs of garlic found in the tomb of Ramses proves, while the Charaka Samhita, a Sanskrit medical text dating from 2000 ... Read review
Advantages: Easy to grow, cheap, pays for itself Disadvantages: none
Garlic (sometimes known as 'Stinking Rose' or 'Poor Mans Treacle' has long been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It was certainly in use around 3000bc, as the six bulbs of garlic found in the tomb of Ramses proves, while the Charaka Samhita, a Sanskrit medical text dating from 2000 bc also contains references to the use of garlic for medicinal purposes.
A Buddhist text from the 4th century ad , the Navanitaka, also makes mention ... ...consuming garlic.
Garlic today has many fans in the UK , possibly something to do with the increasing popularity of foreign food here. Italian food, for example is often teeming with garlic, as in Indian and middle eastern food, and some Chinese dishes.
However, it hasn't always been so popular. For instance, Cervantes (the author of Don Quixote) said "Do not eat garlic or onions; for their smell will reveal that ... more
Garlic (sometimes known as 'Stinking Rose' or 'Poor Mans Treacle' has long been used for culinary and medicinal purposes. It was certainly in use around 3000bc, as the six bulbs of garlic found in the tomb of Ramses proves, while the Charaka Samhita, a Sanskrit medical text dating from 2000 bc also contains references to the use of garlic for medicinal purposes.
A Buddhist text from the 4th century ad , the Navanitaka, also makes mention of garlic as a herbal medicine, although it is worth noting that for a long time the Buddhists were among a number of religions which forbade their followers from entering a temple after consuming garlic.
Garlic today has many fans in the UK , possibly something to do with the increasing popularity of foreign food here. Italian food, for example is often teeming with garlic, as in Indian and middle eastern food, and some Chinese dishes.
However, it hasn't always been so popular. For instance, Cervantes (the author of Don Quixote) said "Do not eat garlic or onions; for their smell will reveal that you are a peasant."
However, I personally tend to agree with the wise words of Louis Diat who stated "Without garlic I simply would not care to live."
So, what IS Garlic -------------------------
Well, if you've never heard of garlic, I'd be very surprised. Garlic is a member of the Allium family of plants, a group which also includes onions and leeks. It's not known for sure where garlic originates from, as it's been present in many cultures throughout history. Many people believe it originated from Asia, but it is also to be found growing wild in some parts of the Mediterranean.
Garlic is bulb like in shape, with a white papery covering. With the covering removed, the bulb is split into smaller cloves, each of which can be planted to grow into a whole head. With a little care, you can take just one bulb of garlic and planted properly, it will produce many more bulbs of garlic for you. It's cheap and easy to do, so is in ideal first project for anyone with an interest in home growing their own produce.
Different kinds of Garlic ---------------------------------
The most commonly available brand of garlic in supermarkets is "allium sativum" which falls into two sub categories, soft necked and hard necked garlic. Soft necked is more readily available on supermarket shelves, simply because it is easier to plant and cultivate by mechanical means. Soft neck garlic also last for longer, and is distinctive by white papery skin and many small cloves.
Hard necked garlic usually has fewer but larger cloves, and have less of the papery white outer wrapper, making them more problematic to grow and giving them a much shorter shelf life. Hard necked garlic is also known for producing 'flowers' which is something of a misnomer as the 'flowers' are actually tiny bulbs of garlic themselves. These small bulbs drain nutrients from the planted bulb, so if you're growing hard necked garlic, it's worth cutting these off in order to protect your harvest.
Elephant garlic is much larger then either of these two varieties, and a bulb can weigh anything up to a pound, with a single clove sometimes growing as large as a whole bulb of ordinary garlic. Elephant has a sweeter, less garlicky taste than the allium sativum varieties, so is ideal for those who prefer a milder taste.
How and when to plant Garlic -----------------------------------------
Growing your own garlic is extraordinarily simple, so even if you're no green fingers it is well worth giving it a try. Don't be fooled into thinking that garlic won't grow in the cold weather in england, in fact, garlic is very hardy indeed and thrives even in Scotland, as evidenced by the owners of the site http://www.reallygarlicky.co.uk/flashindex.html who make a living selling their award winning hard necked garlic.
Pick a spot in your garden that gets a good amount of sun, and make sure the soil is not overly prone to waterlog, as poor drainage and excess moisture may cause the garlic to rot. If drainage in your garden is poor, digging some sand into the soil may help. A little blood and bone fertilizer is also a great idea to nourish the soil.
There is no need to buy special bulbs for planting. Simply go to your supermarket, pick out a firm, large bulb with no signs of going off , and then carefully peel the outer skin from the bulb. Separate the cloves, leaving the skin on, and then select large, unblemished cloves to be planted. The best time for planting is generally known to be October/november time, although some people prefer to leave it until the spring.
Turn the soil thoroughly to about eight inches in depth, and then push the individual cloves into the soil in an upright position about an inch below the soil surface . Space the cloves at least four inches apart (tighter spacing will not stop them growing, but the bulbs will be smaller.)
Although garlic requires little attention, it will encourage your harvest if you can nourish the soil with a general purpose fertilizer every couple of months or so. This is not absolutely essential, but will greatly improve the quality of your garlic.
It may seem like nothing is happening for some time, but if you plant in October by march you should be seeing the first tentative green shoots poking out of the soil.
When the leaves have turned yellow or brown, your garlic is ready for harvesting. To test this, carefully pull one bulb from the soil, and see how many papery layers there are on the outside of the bulb. If there are three or less, you garlic is perfectly ripe and can be harvested, if there are mote than three layers, bury it again for a couple of weeks till the excess skins turn brown.
After Harvesting ___________
Garlic only has a long shelf life it it is properly dried, so hang in a cool dry place. (If you have an overhead kitchen airer, this would be ideal, but if not, any cool dry place will do) for a week. After this, you can brush off any excess soil, and then store you garlic in a cool dry cupboard away from excess sunlight
Garlic as a natural pesticide ---------------------------------------
Studies by newcastle university found that when plants were sprayed with a mixture of garlic and water, greenfly and aphids began to drop like, well, flies from the stems of the plant.
Similarly, slugs also have bad reactions to garlic. In the same study, it was found that slugs turned away from the smell of garlic, and anyn slugs sprayed with it also died.
So, if you like to grow your food as organically as possible, a solution on crushed garlic and water is very effective in warding off pests.
Medicinal uses Of Garlic ----------------------------------
As well as being used for cooking, garlic also has many medicinal uses. The main medicinal ingredient of garlic is allicin, which is produced when garlic is chopped or crushed.
Coarsely cut raw garlic has been effectively used as an antiseptic in both world wars, proving very effective at stopping wounds becoming infected when applied directly to the wound. When applied directly to the skin, it can also ward off mosquitos.
Eaten in food, or taken as a dietary supplement, research has shown that garlic can effect a small but significant reduction in bad cholesterol, while helping to increase the amount of healthy HDL cholesterol.
It has also been known as an aid to reducing blood clotting, although supplements are more effective. However, it is worth noting that garlic supplements may interfere with the anticoagulant warfarin, and should be avoided if you or on this medication.
A recent Taiwanese study has also found that garlic can actually help protect against certain antibiotic resistent bacteria,most notably Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). A link to this particularly interesting new health claim can be found at the bottom of this review. , Bad Breath and Bodily Functions ----------------------------------------------
The worst thing about garlic is the fact that it can leave you with appalling bad breath. There really is little you can do about this, if you like garlic in your cooking. Although you can effectively mask the odour by chewing fresh parsley after eating a garlic laden meal, the garlic will still seep out through your skin.
Garlic can also cause indigestion if eaten in overly large amounts, and add a particularly malodorous twang to your farts!
So, as well as warding off vampires, garlic is a tasty addition to many recipes, and has many health benefits when wither eaten in food or taken as a supplement. Overall, I would recommend trying to grow garlic to any would be gardener, whatever your level of ability, simply because it's so easy, and so cheap to grow.
I've rambled on for far too long now, so I'll leave you with the news that garlic is reportedly an aphrodisiac, a fact which, having a particularly tasty roulé cheese, I'm keen to put to the test.:)
Sites of interest: http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/g/garlic06.html#des offers particularly interesting information on all kinds of plants and herbs, from a 1900's perspective, including planting information
http://www.garlicworld.co.uk has a whole host of information on anything you could want to know about garlic.
http://www.garlicworld.co.uk/page1.html#mrsa An article detailing the positive effects garlic can have against this killer superbug.
Advantages: Versatile. Disadvantages: Most people hate the smell
...it or hate it. Garlic can do something good for you.
There can't be many plants that are so versatile.
Garlic belongs to the same family group as onions, chives, tulips and lilies and it's been with us a long time.
Evidence of its existence has been found in caves that were lived in 10,000 years ago and the first written reference, on a clay tablet, is dated from 3,000 BC.
It seems that ancient civilisations had a good understanding of the many ... ...building the pyramids were given garlic in their rations as it was believed it would keep up their strength.
Roman and Greek physicians recommended garlic for use against infections, cancer, leprosy, heart problems and dozens of other ailments and illnesses.
Modern scientific evidence shows that they were on the right track with many of their suggestions.
The Greeks seem to be the first to hang garlic cloves around doorways to ward off disease, ...
Marans 15.11.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Garlic
Advantages: Cheap and easy to grow Disadvantages: Smelly breath
The proper name for garlic is Allium sativum and it is part of the onion family. The word garlic comes from the old German word garlaeac, which means 'spear leek'. The gar means spear and refers to the pointy leaves and lic means leek, which is another member of the onion family. Garlic is a bulb which, when mature, has segments called cloves and these are held together with a white papery skin.
Garlic has been grown for centuries both for its culinary ... ...your best friends too. Garlic is truly multi-cultured. It can be found in cooking recipes from India, China, Indonesia, Turkey and of course France and has now become well established in British cookery. I am going to concentrate on how to grow your own for only the cost of one single bulb - a matter of a few pence.
You don't need much space as they can be successfully grown in pots or tubs or even in the flower borders although they are not particularly ...
perfectlypolished 03.02.2007 (07.07.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Garlic
Garlic has been around since recorded history began. Allium sativium, to give it its Latin name is actually classes as a herb although it is part of the onion family along with leeks and shallots.
A potted history
********************
Garlic originated in central Asia. It was worshipped by the ancient Egyptians and even used as a currency. Clay sculptures of garlic bulbs have been discovered in ancient Egyptian tombs dating back to 3,200 B.C. ... ...Gods. Greek military leaders gave garlic to their troops prior to a battle believing it would give them strength and courage. Garlic was also used by Greek Olympians to improve their performance. In central Europe garlic has long been associated as a powerful protector against vampires and were wolves. To be safe this Halloween you should hang garlic around your doors and windows and just to be really safe you could rub some around all your keyholes ...
anwar 26.10.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Garlic
Advantages: Very good for your health Disadvantages: Bad breath
...hear people say I hate Garlic and won't cook with it, or I don't like the smell of it. They are so ignorant they don't even know it's used in most everyday things ranging from peri-peri sauce to ready meals and in lots of tinned food like soups etc.
How can you not love the smell of roasted garlic :)
As you may be able to tell I love garlic and I must go through a clump a week, its great with a massive amount of different foods, just don't use ... ...the mistake; too much Garlic can taint the food and kill the flavour of the meat.
Quite a bit of information about the Garlic coming up so hear goes.
Garlic - Allium sativum
***The Plant***
Garlic also goes by the names of Clove garlic and originates from India and Central Asia and is one of the oldest valued plants. In Greek legend, Odysseus used Moly (wild garlic) as a charm to keep the sorceress (Circe) from turning into a pig.
The Egyptians ...
the_enlightened_one 24.02.2007
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Garlic
Advantages: Really very easy to grow, and a fun project for kids. Disadvantages: Not many, some people don't like the odor.
...Peasant–Unknown
Did you know garlic is classified as an herb? My dictionary defines an herb as "A plant or plant part valued for its medicinal, savory, or aromatic properties." So, garlic, and many other plants are really herbs! Whatever you call it, garlic is an incredibly popular flavoring for all sorts of dishes. Growing garlic is really very easy. If you love "the stinking rose," you'll love growing your own fresh garlic!
Where to Plant ... ...grown anew every year.) Garlic can be grown from seed, but most people plant the bulblets (or cloves). Plant it in a sunny location in your garden.
How Does Your Garlic Grow?
Garlic and onion are members of the same family (Allium). Garlic grows as a bulb, with only the tall spiked leaves showing above the ground. It can grow up to 3 feet tall, so give it room in your garden.
Garlic bulbs are made up of several bulblets, or cloves, covered by ...
RenoWriter 21.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Garlic
Advantages: Dried marjoram can be stored for ages in the kitchen cupboard Disadvantages: Sometimes the fresh version can be sold out in the supermarket
I love Italian food and often make my own pizzaiola sauce to go with pork chops or veal steaks. I have grown my own oregano which is very nice but needs chopping very finely. I believe that fresh is always better than dried where herbs are concerned, but in this case, the dry version has a better smell and flavour.
I used to follow recipes to the letter but nowadays vary them according to what ingredients I have to hand or can easily buy. A basic pizzaiola sauce would be along the lines of:
Chop an onion really small and sweat in olive oil with the lid on the pan, over a low heat for about 4 minutes. Then add finely chopped garlic (1 clove, 2 cloves, you choose, but I would use about 5 cloves). If you are a bit nervous of garlic, then I would advise using a garlic press as the flavour becomes slightly more subtle. Sprinkle two ...
planetchelsea 27.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Marjoram
Advantages: A very versatile vegetable Disadvantages: None
of supermarkets are stocking the Albert Bartlett Rooster potatoes and they are superb for creaming.
Only recently I cooked a pot of Roosters leaving the peel on them, when they were boiled I rolled them in garlic butter and they were delicious.
The packs of salad potatoes can work out as good value, they have no waste attached to them, they can be boiled in their skins and served with practically any meal.
I have found through experience that buying the large jacket potatoes can be an expensive job! I would rather buy a normal 2.5kg bag and then pick out the bigger ones to bake. Jacket potatoes are a meal in themselves, just choose one of many toppings and then add a side salad, it couldn't be easier.
Our favourite way to enjoy potatoes is unfortunately very high in fat and calories. I peel and cut enough potatoes for two portions and then ...
Sarahjh1 06.03.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Potatoes
Advantages: tasty addition to stews and cassorole Disadvantages: maybe to strong for your taste
scent and the best way to dry the leaves is in the dark, this way they don't lose their colour. They can be stored in an airtight jar after the are dried, but in summer it is always good to be able to pick the leaves from the plant to add the fresh herb to your recipe.
Bay can be put into stews and casseroles to give them an added flavour, remember to take them out though before seving.
One or two leaves should be enough to flavour your meal. You can add them to a bottle of olive oil along with a few chillies and a clove of garlic, to give the oil extra flavour.
You can put them in the pot when you are braising meat and they are excellent for flavouring home made tomato sauce.
Here is a little recipe with bay that you might like to try.
8oz of green lentils
2 bay leaves
1 medium onion
6tsp sunflower oil or olive oil
2 ...
Sunnysmiles 02.07.2009
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Bay
