A lot of people - including some experienced chefs - don't know a simple fact about garlic. When using garlic, always cut the clove in half and remove and discard the green and white center sprout. Many diners complain the garlic doesn't agree with them...or it comes out in their pores for a day or two after eating a dish prepared with fresh garlic. Well, it's usually this center sprout that is the culprit. The sprout is bitter, and is 20-25 times stronger than the rest of the garlic clove. Unfortunately, most chefs and restaurant use the whole clove, not taking time to remove it. You even see the famous television chefs crush a garlic clove with the blade of a chef's knife to remove the skin and immediately start dicing. WRONG! All dishes are better...more flavorful...and digestible when you remove the center sprout. In fact, prove it to yourself..but only when you aren't going to be around someone for a day , take a clove with the sprout in and one without...pop the two halves of clove without the center sprout in your mouth, chew and swallow. Then, try and do the same thing with the clove with the sprout. You'll never use garlic again...without removing the center! Garlic has a lot of medicinal benefits...so use freely...and ENJOY!

wow...good to know..thanks much!!

Cool, thanks for the info. I'm wanting to plant it this spring, so the info for eating it helps.

I never heard of this. Thanks for the tip!

Wow, didn't know about the inside being stronger but I did know it very healthy for you. Garlic is one of the most powerful herbs that help kill bacteria.

I'm a garlic lover!!!

It is very good for you!!

I love garlic,forget 1/2 bits
i,ll put use the wholething!
buy organic people!

Thank you for the information Gator76. It does seem to make sense, just never thought about it.

EquusDancer: It's supposedly better to plant garlic in the fall. At least in the colder regions, not entirely sure if it would make much of a difference in Texas. Just thought I'd mention it in case you hadn't heard of this before. Good luck with your crop. :)

I'll have to look into it. Thanks for the info!

I'm starting to dig up my herbs and pot them and toss them in the greenhouse now, as I need to tear up the ground again. I was going to pot the garlic and put it in the greenhouse as well.

Hope to get the greenhouse expanded another 16 feet soon, soon!

i heard about that from alton brown

Heres a tip,at the first sign of flu or cold get half a clove of garlic put it in your mouth with water chew for a while till its mixed with the water and gargle with it for as long as you can,it WORKS as it kills the bactiria at the back of your gob were all colds n shizzle take hold! beware its hot!

we also chop it up into small pieces and swallow them like pills. As it digests it starts killing the bacteria, no taste and not hot.

Yes. This does work!!!