Every garlic clove planted this fall is a clone of the bulb it came from. Garlic is largely sterile and grows best from cloves rather than seed, and viruses and other pathogens can build up in clove-grown garlic over successive crops. Where the cloves come from matters, and the supermarket may not be the best place to get them.
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmr=@G6D 2C6 D6A2C2E65 7C@> E96 3F=3 ?@ >@C6 E92? 2 52J 367@C6 A=2?E:?8] #@@ED DE2CE 7@C>:?8 :? 72==[ 2?5 8C@HE9 A2FD6D @G6C H:?E6C F?E:= DAC:?8 D@:= H2C>D] p =2J6C @7 DEC2H @C =627 >F=49 96=AD AC@E64E E96 4=@G6D @G6C H:?E6C] *@F 42? 3FJ D665 82C=:4 7C@> 82C56? 46?E6CD 2?5 >2:=\@C56C D6==6CD[ @C FD6 E96 AC6G:@FD J62C’D 3F=3D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv2C=:4 2=D@ AC@5F46D 2 D64@?5 <:?5 @7 A=2?E:?8 DE@4< 23@G6 8C@F?5] w2C5?64< G2C:6E:6D D6?5 FA 2 7=@H6C DE2=< 42==65 2 D42A6 :? =2E6 DAC:?8[ 2?5 E96 DE2=< 6?5D :? 2 4=FDE6C @7 D>2== 26C:2= 3F=3D 42==65 3F=3:=D[ 6249 2 4=@?6 @7 :ED A2C6?E] !=2?E65 E96 4@?G6?E:@?2= H2J[ 3F=3:=D ?665 2E =62DE EH@ 8C@H:?8 D62D@?D E@ 364@>6 2 >2C<6E23=6 3F=3] p C646?E EC:2= 4FE E92E E@ @?6 D62D@? 3J 7:CDE C2:D:?8 3F=3:=D :?E@ D665=:?8D :? 2 ?FCD6CJ] %96 EC2?DA=2?E65 D665=:?8D J:6=565 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2I2AC6DD]4@>^52E2^2CE:4=6^E:9@CE^AC6G:6H^A57^E:9@CE\__ae\__`e]A57Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm`f]f >6EC:4 E@?D A6C 964E2C6k^2m 2E E96 9:896DE A@E2DD:F> 5@D6 E6DE65[ DE2E:DE:42==J 4@>A2C23=6 E@ E96 `g]b E@?D 7C@> 4=@G6D]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmv2C=:4 D<:AD D665k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$665 :D C2C6=J E96 C@FE6 7@C 82C=:4[ D:?46 E96 A=2?E :D =2C86=J k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>5A:]4@>^a_ff\_cfa^`e^`g^`hcaQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmDE6C:=6k^2m 2?5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6IE6?D:@?]:==:?@:D]65F^3=@8D^8@@5\8C@H:?8^a_ae\`_\_h\C625J\D6E\82C=:4Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm8C@HD 36DE 7C@> 4=@G6Dk^2m[ H9:49 AC@5F46 A=2?ED >2E49:?8 E96 3F=3 E96J 42>6 7C@>] ~?6 7:6=5 DEF5J A=2?E65 E96 D2>6 DE@4< :? 6G6CJ A=@E E@ =:>:E 86?6E:4 G2C:2E:@? 36EH66? A=2?ED] p DEC6E49 @7 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FG>]65F^6IE6?D:@?^>2DE6C82C56?6C^?6HD^A=2?E\82C=:4\?@H\?6IE\J62CD\92CG6DEQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm4@=5 EC62E>6?Ek^2m :D 2=D@ ?66565 367@C6 2 3F=3 7@C>D[ H9:49 :D H9J 4=@G6D 8@ :? 5FC:?8 72== :?DE625 @7 DAC:?8]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm(92E 2 4=@?6 92?5D 5@H?k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmx? 82C=:4 8C@H? 7C@> 4=@G6D[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2I2AC6DD]4@>^52E2^2CE:4=6^E:9@CE^AC6G:6H^A57^E:9@CE\__ae\__`e]A57Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmG:CFD6D 2?5 @E96C A2E9@86?Dk^2m 42? 3F:=5 FA 8C25F2==J @G6C DF446DD:G6 4C@AA:?8 4J4=6D] %H@ G:CFD6D H:56=J C6A@CE65 :? 82C=:4\8C@H:?8 C68:@?D[ @?:@? J6==@H 5H2C7 G:CFD 2?5 =66< J6==@H DEC:A6 G:CFD[ D:8?:7:42?E=J C65F46 3F=3 J:6=5 2?5 BF2=:EJ]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$FA6C>2C<6E 3F=3D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FG>]65F^6IE6?D:@?^>2DE6C82C56?6C^?6HD^A=2?E\82C=:4\?@H\?6IE\J62CD\92CG6DEQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm>2J 92G6 366? EC62E65k^2m E@ 6IE6?5 D96=7 =:76 @C >2J 36=@?8 E@ 2 G2C:6EJ E92E 8C@HD @?=J :? H2C>6C 4=:>2E6D] $665 82C=:4 7C@> 2 =@42= 72C> @C 82C56? 46?E6C :D E96 D276C 49@:46 7@C 2 4C@A E92E 8C@HD DF446DD7F==J]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmw2C5?64< 2?5 D@7E?64< 3692G6 5:776C6?E=Jk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw2C5?64< 82C=:4 AC@5F46D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6IE6?D:@?]:==:?@:D]65F^3=@8D^8@@5\8C@H:?8^a_ae\`_\_h\C625J\D6E\82C=:4Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm76H6C 4=@G6D A6C 3F=3k^2m[ 3FE E96 4=@G6D 2C6 =2C86C[ 2?5 E96 7=2G@C :D DEC@?86C 2?5 >@C6 4@>A=6I] xED D<:? :D E9:4<6C 3FE >@C6 3C:EE=6[ 2?5 E96 46?EC2= DE6> EFC?D C:8:5 2E >2EFC:EJ] $@7E?64< 82C=:4 92D 2 >:=56C 7=2G@C 2?5 5@6D 36EE6C :? >:=5 H:?E6CD 2?5 9@E DF>>6CD] xED =62G6D DE2J D@7E 2E >2EFC:EJ[ H9:49 >2<6D 3C2:5:?8 A@DD:3=6]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmvC@H6CD C6>@G6 E96 D42A6 D@ E96 A=2?E 42? AFE >@C6 6?6C8J :?E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FG>]65F^6IE6?D:@?^>2DE6C82C56?6C^?6HD^A=2?E\82C=:4\?@H\?6IE\J62CD\92CG6DEQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm3F=3 7@C>2E:@?k^2m] %96 D42A6 :D 2=D@ 65:3=6[ H9:49 8:G6D 8C@H6CD D@>6E9:?8 E@ 92CG6DE H9:=6 E96 3F=3D 7:?:D9 8C@H:?8]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8QmqF=3:=D 96=A H:E9 D@>6 AC@3=6>D 2?5 ?@E @E96CDk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9QmqF=3:=D 7@C> :? E96 2:C @? E96 7=@H6C DE2=< 2?5 5@ ?@E E@F49 E96 D@:= H9:=6 E96J 56G6=@A[ H9:49 >2J C65F46 E96 DAC625 @7 46CE2:? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>2I2AC6DD]4@>^52E2^2CE:4=6^E:9@CE^AC6G:6H^A57^E:9@CE\__ae\__`e]A57Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmD@:=\3@C?6 A2E9@86?Dk^2m 4@>A2C65 H:E9 4=@G6D] %96J 2C6 ?@E :?96C6?E=J G:CFD 7C66[ E9@F89[ 3642FD6 G:CFD6D 42? EC2G6= 7C@> E96 >@E96C A=2?E :?E@ E96 56G6=@A:?8 3F=3:=D E9C@F89 E96 A=2?E’D G2D4F=2C 4@??64E:@?D]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp D:?8=6 A=2?E 42? AC@5F46 9F?5C65D @7 3F=3:=D[ H9:49 2==@HD A=2?E:?8 DE@4< E@ >F=E:A=J BF:4<=J] {23 E649?:BF6D DF49 2D >6C:DE6> 4F=EFC6 @C E96C>@E96C2AJ 42? 36 A2:C65 H:E9 3F=3:=D E@ 6=:>:?2E6 G:CFD6D 7C@> A=2?E:?8 DE@4<]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qm$2G:?8 3F=3D 7@C ?6IE 72==k^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmv2C56?6CD H9@ H2?E E@ C6A=2?E E96:C @H? 4C@A D6E 2D:56 E96 3:886DE 3F=3D 2E 92CG6DE[ D:?46 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6IE6?D:@?]:==:?@:D]65F^3=@8D^8@@5\8C@H:?8^a_ae\`_\_h\C625J\D6E\82C=:4Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm4=@G6D 7C@> E96 =2C86DE 3F=3Dk^2m 8:G6 E96 9:896DE J:6=5] (:E9:? 6249 D2G65 3F=3[ A=2?E E96 =2C86DE 4=@G6D[ 3642FD6 E96J AC@5F46 E96 =2C86DE 3F=3D 2E 92CG6DE]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmp?J@?6 A=2??:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^9@H\E@\DE@C6\82C=:4^QmDE@C6 82C=:4k^2m F?E:= A=2?E:?8 E:>6 DE2CED 3J 4FC:?8 E96 3F=3D :? 2 D925J DA@E H:E9 8@@5 2:C 4:C4F=2E:@?] ~?46 E96 HC2AA6CD EFC? A2A6CJ 2?5 E96 C@@ED 5CJ[ E96 C@@ED 2?5 DE2=< 2C6 EC:>>65 2?5 E96 3F=3D 8@ :?E@ 2 4@@=[ 52C< 2?5 5CJ A=246]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qm$@:= E92E 8C6H 82C=:4 @C 2?@E96C 2==:F> 4C@A ?665D 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FG>]65F^6IE6?D:@?^>2DE6C82C56?6C^?6HD^A=2?E\82C=:4\?@H\?6IE\J62CD\92CG6DEQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmEH@\J62C 3C62<k^2m 367@C6 C6A=2?E:?8[ H9:49 >62?D D2G65 4=@G6D 8@ :?E@ 2 365 E92E 92D ?@E 96=5 82C=:4 @C 2?J 2==:F> :? E96 A2DE EH@ J62CD] &?:G6CD:EJ @7 '6C>@?E tIE6?D:@? 25G:D6D A=2?E:?8 4=@G6D 2E =62DE a :?496D 566A 2?5 c E@ g :?496D 2A2CE[ H9:49 =62G6D C@@> E@ 5:8 E96 3F=3D D276=J 2E 92CG6DE]k^Am
k9a 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\9625:?8Qmw2CG6DE E:>:?8 >2EE6CD 7@C 4=@?6Dk^9am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmw2CG6DE 4@>6D :? >:5 E@ =2E6 DF>>6C[ @?46 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6IE6?D:@?]:==:?@:D]65F^3=@8D^8@@5\8C@H:?8^a_ae\`_\_h\C625J\D6E\82C=:4Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm23@FE 92=7 E96 =62G6Dk^2m 92G6 EFC?65 J6==@H] qF=3D =67E :? E96 8C@F?5 E@@ =@?8 =@D6 E96:C HC2AA6CD H9:=6 E96 4=@G6D D6A2C2E6] vC@H6CD H9@ 7:?5 E96 3F=3D ?@E J6E C625J 42? 4@G6C E96> 324< FA H:E9 D@:= 2?5 4964< 282:? :? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]FG>]65F^6IE6?D:@?^>2DE6C82C56?6C^?6HD^A=2?E\82C=:4\?@H\?6IE\J62CD\92CG6DEQ C6=lQ?@7@==@HQm2 H66< @C EH@k^2m]k^Am
kA 4=2DDlQHA\3=@4<\A2C28C2A9Qmy6??:76C p==6? :D 2 C6E:C65 AC@76DD:@?2= 4967 2?5 =@?8\E:>6 HC:E6C] w6C H@C< 2AA62CD :? 5@K6?D @7 AF3=:42E:@?D[ :?4=F5:?8 |$}[ *29@@[ %96 (2D9:?8E@? !@DE 2?5 %96 $62EE=6 %:>6D] %96D6 52JD[ D96’D 3FDJ :? E96 <:E496? 56G6=@A:?8 C64:A6D 2?5 EC2G6=:?8 E96 H@C=5[ 2?5 J@F 42? 7:?5 2== 96C 36DE 4C62E:@?D 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@@<H92EJ@F=@G6]4@>^Qmr@@< (92E *@F {@G6k^2m] k^Am
kAm%96 A@DE k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>^A=2?E:?8\82C=:4\A2J@77\?6IE\DF>>6C^Qmv2C=:4 8@6D :? E96 8C@F?5 E9:D >@?E9 3FE H@?’E A2J @77 F?E:= ?6IE DF>>6Ck^2m 2AA62C65 7:CDE @? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^7@@55C:?<=:76]4@>Qmu@@5 sC:?< {:76k^2m]k^Am
