A close relative of the onion, garlic is an edible, bulbous plant native to Asia that has been cultivated for several thousand years. Above ground, garlic appears as flattened, grass-like leaves (also known as scapes). In contrast, below ground, it forms a firm bulb, typically containing between four and 20 cloves, encased in a papery exterior. Garlic should be planted in the fall, about a month or so before the first frost. Harvesting garlic is not an exact science. It will grow slowly over the next nine months or so and will deliver a bountiful harvest by mid-spring or summer.