Garlic

Overview: Garlic is one of the most versatile and popular spices in the world. Strong in flavor, smell, and health benefits, garlic can be added to many dishes as a main or supporting flavor. 

Seven heads of recently harvested garlic sit atop a rock
Recently-harvested garlic

Seed Starting:  Garlic is grown from cloves. It takes 8-9 months for cloves to become new garlic heads. Garlic is one of the few foods planted in the fall in New England. It is harvested in late spring/early summer.

Growing Advice: Plant each clove tip up and 3 to 5 inches deep. It helps to insulate garlic over winter with a layer of mulch (shredded leaves, straw, etc.). . You can plant garlic from sprouted garlic, just add it to soil. Although garlic only has one life cycle after picked, simply replant a clove or two from each harvested head, to restart the process.

Harvesting: Harvest your garlic when the lower leaves of your plant turn brown. Don’t rinse dirt from garlic with water: shake it off to preserve the papery protection.

Recipe for Garlic Confit

  • Remove garlic cloves from head and peel
  • Put in ceramic or any oven safe container.
  • Separate cloves and cover completely with olive oil.
  • Add any additional herbs to your liking (rosemary, basil, peppercorns, lemon, etc.) and bake in the oven at 300 Fahrenheit for 30 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Use as a spread, add to butter, or any of your recipes there are hundreds of uses!
  • Save the oil and now you have garlic infused olive oil!
  • Since you cooked the garlic and the oil make sure to refrigerate for keeping!

Written by; Jackie Rosney