Garlic has been known for centuries for promoting good health and fighting infection. It is also indispensable to the cook, stores well and most importantly, Quadra grows wonderful, oily garlic. Hardneck garlic sends up flower shoots in July, has large, easily peeled cloves but cannot be braided. Softneck garlic can be braided but the cloves are smaller and they do not produce a flower spike in July. Both these types will store well in a dry, cool, dark place. Elephant garlic has a milder flavour and does not store well. The best time to plant garlic is mid-October. Choose a sunny, well drained spot. Garlic is not a big feeder so a restrained application of organic fertilizer and some lime is all that is required and compost if you have any. Garlic is not supposed to do well in light, sandy soil but it grew well in the Community Garden this past season. To propagate garlic you need to take the biggest bulb you can find, check it is still firm with no soft cloves and break it into separate cloves. Space the cloves, pointed end up, about 6” apart in a row or, if in a square bed, space them out about 8” in all directions. Push them about an inch into the soil. Keep free of weeds and that is it until the spring when they can be mulched once the soil warms. The best bulbs to use are those that have been grown on Quadra. Each year keep your largest bulbs and use them for next year’s cloves. If you use bulbs from the local store, they have most likely been grown in China which is the source of most of Canada’s garlic. They also most likely have been treated with an anti-sprouting chemical so they will store longer. If you don’t have a friend to give you a couple of bulbs to get started, then try Saltspring Island Seeds which have a good selection.