Garlic

We recently had our first frost of the year and knew it was time to plant our garlic. We had received a few cloves from some friends that had a very successful planting last year. We also purchased a few cloves on the side to round out our new stock. In the past we had planted our cloves around our rose bushes because we had heard it would help to cut down on pest. After two years I’m not sure exactly how much of that is true but one thing is for sure the garlic itself was not looking too healthy so we decided to go another route.

My two year old son and I had recently cleaned out our raised bed and worked the soil over in preparation of the new planting. The trick is to take each clove, with the skin still on, and plant it pointy side up about 2 inches deep and 5 inches apart. We also used our old corn stalks as recycled mulch for the raised bed. Early next spring we will hit the soil with a fresh batch of compost as well.

I’m sure everyone is aware of the health benefits of garlic. It contains multiple anticancer compounds and antioxidants. The Iowa Women’s Health Study suggested that women who have a clove a day in their diet run a much smaller risk of colon cancer. It does wonders for everything from the common cold to lowering ones blood pressure. It strengthens the body’s defenses against allergies and holds benefits for your liver. The active component in garlic is the sulfur compound allicin. Allicin is produced when garlic is chopped, chewed or bruised.