(Allium Sativum) A garlic bulb is made up of multiple cloves around a small stalk. There are two varieties – regular (which can be white or purple) and elephant (which are slightly milder but twice the size).
To plant, pull apart the bulb and pop the cloves 3-4 inches apart (or 6 for the elephant variety) and 2½-3 inches down, you can plant them anytime you wish as they are extremely hardy (put it this way, even snow won’t kill them) but it might be worth remembering that planting them in Autumn brings a spring crop.
You’ll know when they’re ready as they start to enlarge and show the newly formed bulb just above ground; the tops will also fall and dry. When this happens, pull them out, wash them off and leave them to dry in the sun for a day or two (the kitchen shelf is ideal). Cut the stalks off and store them in a cool, dry place – remembering to replant for next year!
Well, this opinion could have been put under the medicine section as well. See what I mean?.......
Garlic is wonderful, since ancient times it has been hailed for its medicinal value, even Louis Pasteur confirmed the antibacterial action in 1858 (no Liz, not the year I was born!). Apparently it helps reduce cholesterol and thins the blood. Evidently, It has also been successfully used in dysentery, typhoid, and cholera and is also an effective anti-worming agent.
There are loads of other benefits like disinfecting dental and throat infections, alleviating some symptoms of allergies as it has an anti-inflammatory effect. It has also been said that because it has a direct anti-tumor activity, it inhibits malignant cell growth, so it could help people who have Cancer.
But, and this is a BIG but, before you start taking a regular (i.e. Daily) dose of garlic, if you are going to have any sort of surgery, make sure you tell your doctor and surgeon, it lets them know why you’re bleeding all over the place!
I personally suffer really badly with stomach and oral thrush (which is brought on by stress), but since taking 2 garlic capsules a day it has been a hell of a lot better. Although it has brought on a slight touch of wind (you, stop giggling at the back!), and they do say that it can cause mild heartburn.
While I would describe it as a vegetable (yummy ~ roasted garlic cloves and field mushrooms), most people prefer it as a herb, adding it to Italian, Chinese and Oriental cooking. But here is one suggestion which is absolutely gorgeous ~ Garlic Mashed Potatoes mmmmmmmm.
In the past, garlic was known and used to ward off vampires, but it doesn’t work. How do I know? Well, I just do…. (Muwahaahaa)
A little titbit for you:- Alliumphobia is the fear of garlic.
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I plant a few cloves of garlic here and there and it grows into a long shoot that is green. It looks a bit like a big spring onion. It gives a lovely mild garlicky taste and the more you cut them down to use, the more they grow. I have never noticed any actual cloves of garlic growing, but I guess you need the proper plant to grow these. I use it in all my cooking and gives the nice green colour when chopped up for garlic bread. Nice in a salad too.
tomc 22.04.2001 09:48
Good opinion - I throw bulbs into to roast with potatoes too. You can make your own garlic oil but putting crushed garlic in olive oil in a bottle and leaving it to mature. Useful for flavouring
peppermint 10.04.2001 20:55
My mother swears by this, being a regular taker of a clove of garlic a day. Me, I can only manage the occasional capsule! Great op! Andy
Advantages: Dried marjoram can be stored for ages in the kitchen cupboard Disadvantages: Sometimes the fresh version can be sold out in the supermarket
planetchelsea 27.03.2009 ·
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