How to Choose Which Garlic to Plant
Knowing which Garlic to plant for your location is key. And not all Garlic is created equal. Garlic is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family (also known as the Allium family). It’s a hardy perennial thought to be native to Central Asia.
While there are many different cultivars, Garlic is divided into 2 main subspecies - Hard-necked (Allium ophioscorodon) and Soft-necked (Allium sativum). Hard-necked Garlic has large cloves that are easy to peel, with a very intense flavor. These Garlics produce hard-stemmed flower stalks with small aerial bulbs. This stalk results in the Garlic bulb having a “hard neck” (hence the name - LOL). As enticing as it might be to plant Garlic that has large, easy to peel cloves, the trade off is that these Garlics usually have a shelf life of only 4 to 5 months.
Soft-necked Garlic doesn’t grow a flower stalk and has more cloves than Hard-necked Garlic, but the cloves are smaller and harder to peel. Soft-necked Garlic usually will store at least 8 months (maybe more with proper care), and can be braided after harvesting.
The most common type of Hard-necked Garlic seems to be Rocambole, but there are other varieties to choose from including Purple Stripe and Porcelain. If you live in a northern climate, with cold winters and long, cool springs, then planting a variety of Hard-necked Garlic may work best.
Soft-necked Garlic on the other hand, does much better in warmer climates. These Garlics don’t bolt easily, so they can survive through the fluctuating temperatures of a Southern winter.
There are 2 types of Soft-necked Garlic - Artichoke and Silverskin. Artichoke varieties resemble artichoke vegetables with multiple overlapping layers, and include Inchelium Red, California Early and Chet’s Italian. Silverskin varieties are the ones most often found in groceries due to their long shelf life. Bulb wrappers are smooth and fine and, most of the time, are white. Silverskin Garlic varieties includes Nootka Rose and Mild French.
There’s one more type of Garlic that you might consider planting - Elephant Garlic. Elephant Garlic is not really a true Garlic, but a type of leek. You plant it the same as you would true Garlic. Elephant Garlic has super large cloves, sometimes with only 3 or 4 per bulb. Its flavor is milder (and sometimes more bitter) than true Garlic.
Since I’m in the Southeast, I stick with growing Soft-neck Garlic. Last season, I chose the Artichoke variety Inchelium Red and ended up harvesting more than 60 large bulbs! This year, I’m planting both Inchelium Red and a Silverskin variety called Nootka Rose. Super excited to see how they compare!
One thing to remember, when searching for your Garlic source, look for an online source or Garlic farm that is as close to your locale as possible. This way, you’ll be choosing from Garlic varieties that grow best in your specific region. I purchase my Garlic from Southern Exposure Seed Exchange. They always have a wide variety of Soft-neck, Hard-neck and Elephant Garlic available for delivery in the Fall. Be sure to order early for the best options.
So here’s to a successful Garlic season! Stay tuned as I’m working on a Garlic Guide for the kitchen garden. I’ll cover more about choosing which Garlic to plant, planting your Garlic, care throughout the season, harvesting, storing and using in your favorite recipes. Happy planting!
Keep up with all things “Gardening” and Beyond! Sign up for the Garden-ish newsletter to receive creative ideas and inspiration dropped directly into your inbox - on a mostly regular basis!
