As the winter begins, it’s a great time for gardens (and gardeners!) to rest. However, before the garden trowels are stored away for the season one remaining crop can be planted to add delicious flavor to the spring harvest: garlic!

Garlic is not only yummy, but a healthy way to add good flavor to a meal. It is loaded with vitamins and minerals that help keep the body strong and well. It has long been recognized across cultures for its health benefits, including boosting the immune system, reducing blood pressure, lowering the risk of heart disease, and even building bone strength!

Garlic is a popular seasoning in many different cuisines. It can also be chopped up and mixed in with olive oil and lemon juice to make an easy salad dressing for your spring greens. Try it roasted with carrots and beets or tossed in a blender with tomatoes for summer salsa!

Growing garlic in your schoolyard garden can also serve as a great teaching tool for kids of all ages. The pungent smell and flaky surface of the bulbs can be a good sensory object for younger children. For older students, discuss which plants gardeners usually grow from seed and which they grow from bulbs and cuttings.

Some say you can never have enough garlic. I once read a blog post that said one clove of garlic is never enough for any recipe, unless the recipe is titled, “How to Cook One Clove of Garlic,” and in that case still add two!

So don’t forget to plant garlic in your schoolyard garden! We recommend getting garlic in the ground before December 15th.

For tips on how to grow great garlic, click here.