Garlic, The Stinking Rose
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My husband walks through the door and complains, “Awk, what’s that smell?!” The children on the other hand exclaim, “I LOVE that smell! What’s for dinner?” Yep, garlic. Whether you like the smell or not, the health benefits are there. Mayo Clinic states: ”Garlic also is well known for its potential benefits to heart health, especially lowering high levels of lipids in the blood. And, some evidence indicates that garlic may relax smooth muscles and dilate blood vessels. Studies have shown that taking a garlic extract (200 to 400 milligrams three times daily for one month) can lower blood pressure modestly. This research is preliminary and is not enough to support taking garlic solely to lower blood pressure.” Garlic is known for it’s anti-bacterial, anti-viral, anti-fungal, and powerful anti-oxidant properties. Study results are found on Mercola.com.
Grow it with ease
I have discovered that garlic is a snap to grow. Plus, the flavor is much richer and robust than store bought garlic. The cloves are almost juicy. Here’s how to grow it:
Plant individual cloves in the fall about two inches deep. In the spring they will sprout up early. I dig up garlic near the end of July and store them in a cool dry place.
One great thing about growing your own, is the crop multiplies quickly year to year because you plant the individual cloves. In other words, you get many plants from one garlic.