Originally from Asia, the garlic plant has not always been a cooking staple. Today there are over 600 varieties, with the most common type being the artichoke garlic.

There are two basic varieties of garlic– the hardneck and the softneck. Hardneck garlic came from the original Asian garlic plants and needs damp springs and cold winters. They are favored in the United States by Northern growers.

For people in Southern regions, a Softneck variety has also developed. You can tell the difference between them by the stiffness of the stalks and the way that the cloves cluster, as well as how many cloves actually form. The size of the cloves also varies.

Fortunately for people who like garlic, it’s one of the easiest plants that you can grow. You plant the individual cloves that you find in the bulb, and put them pointed-end up, about six inches from one another and two or three inches below the surface of the soil.

Plant your garlic in the fall and make sure that the soil you’re using is well drained and that there is a lot of organic matter, as well as lots of water between mid-May and July when the bulb forms. Remember, it takes between 7-10 months for your garlic to mature. So be patient.

Your garlic will be popular with rodents like gophers, so watch for signs of them around your plants. When the lower leaves of your plants start to turn brown the garlic is ready to harvest. Make sure to dig it up, not pull it up, and enjoy!