What Kind of Garlic Varieties Should You Plant?

The best time to plant garlic is late fall, but you can start planting earlier. Garlic can be planted directly in the ground or in raised garden beds. It thrives in well-draining soil that contains plenty of organic matter. It is best to avoid fertilizer, which can stimulate vigorous growth early in the season but may cause the plant to suffer in the winter. To avoid this, you can test the soil to see what nutrients it contains before planting your garlic. Check out the best Australian garlic producers.

Softneck

If you’re thinking of planting garlic, there are several softneck varieties to choose from. These varieties produce large bulbs and have a mild, savory flavor. They are named for their overlapping layers of cloves. Most varieties grow between 12 and 20 cloves per bulb. Some popular types include Inchelium Red, Lorz Italian, Sicilian, and Transyian.

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Softneck garlic is typically easier to grow than hardneck varieties. The bulbs are larger, with more cloves per bulb. They have a longer shelf life, too. They’re also easier to peel than their hardneck cousins.

Rocambole

The Rocambole garlic varieties are famous for their robust, yet subtle flavor. They are easy to peel and have large, uniform cloves. They are ideal for roasting and are known for their short shelf life. They grow very well in colder climates. Each bulb has between eight and 12 cloves.

These bulbs produce eight to twelve large, plump cloves. They have a distinctive scape, or stalk, that coils tightly into distinct loops. The umbel capsules hold 10 to 20 good-sized bulbils. They store well for four to six months. The taste and aroma are outstanding. Compared to other garlic varieties, rocamboles tend to be difficult to grow in warm or wet climates.

California White

California White garlic is a popular variety that boasts a hot and rich flavor. It’s one of the most common varieties in the US, and is easy to grow and harvest. Its bulbs grow to three inches in diameter and contain large, creamy cloves wrapped in off-white skin. The bulbs are easy to braid and have excellent storage life. Despite its hot flavor, California White is very easy to grow and can thrive in any climate.

California White garlic is very similar to other strains of garlic sold in supermarkets. It grows into large, plump bulbs, and each bulb contains about 10-20 cloves. It has a remarkably high clove-to-bulb ratio, and is a great choice for the home gardener.

Lorz Italian

There are several varieties of garlic to plant in your garden, but Lorz Italian is a popular choice that is both hardy and easy to grow. The variety grows up to 8 pounds of bulbs at harvest. Unlike other hardneck varieties, this variety can withstand both the heat and cold of northern and southern climates. This garlic has an excellent flavor and is especially good for cooking.

You can start your Lorz garlic plants early in spring. Plant the cloves between four and six inches apart and cover the soil with an organic mulch. The cloves should emerge in 14 to 21 days. Once they start to turn brown and droop, harvest them.

Silverskins

One of the newest groups of garlic varieties, Silverskins thrive in climates with mild winters and a long growing season. While they are a good choice for southern regions, they are a bit more difficult to grow in Zones 1-3. They produce large, reliable bulbs and cloves relative to their size.

Silverskins garlic is one of the newest garlic varieties available and is particularly good for spring planting. This variety is widely adapted to a wide variety of growing conditions and is fairly productive. By the end of the summer, Silverskins produce good-sized bulbs containing about 12 to 20 cloves each. Popular Silverskins varieties include Nootka Rose, Sicilian Silver, Mexican Red, and Mild French. Another popular variety in this family is Hardneck garlic. The name comes from the long, stiff central flower stalk that forms in late spring or early summer.

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