Garlic

My first ever post featured Patrice Newel's superb biodynamic purple garlic, of which i had ordered a couple of kilos. In March this year I planted about 10 cloves in my veggie patch. For 8 months or so I watched the garlic sprout and produce tendrils of long green leaves. I resisted (for the most part) digging into the soil to check the size of the bulb and having minimal gardening skills I prepared myself for failure. But in mid-november I dug up the first row and found perfectly formed (though a little small) purple garlic bulbs! I was beyond excited and just sat and stared at them for a while. The second row didn't fare so well, they were blocked from the sun by more broad beans and I think I may have planted them later. Garlic is actually one of the best things to have in the garden, it requires very little labour and keeps the bugs off better than any spray or pellet. To plant your own garlic crop you'll need to buy some organic, local garlic. In around March (early Autumn) it will begin to sprout, when this happens simply plant individual cloves about 20cm apart and 5cm deep in the soil, with the green shoot pointing upwards. Keep well watered. The garlic can't have been sprayed, else it won't sprout. Whilst garlic is delicious and a component of so many dishes, I think people forget that it isn't available all year round. It does store fairly well dried but from about August to miid October I use very little garlic, maybe occasionally some Russian garlic, which has a different season. I have found that for the most part this really doesn't detract from the flavour of most dishes. I never buy Chinese or South American garlic, I would prefer to wait and enjoy it in all its glory when the season arrives.