by Bethany Hayes
When you buy garlic in the depot , you simply grab the white bulb off the shelf and channelize household . The decision is simple , but when you grow garlic , you realize there are so many different sort of garlic to arise in your garden .
Not all garlic is the same , did you acknowledge that ?

Some grow in unlike climates substantially than others , and some varieties produce few Syzygium aromaticum . The flavor and complexness dissent as well ; some are fiery hot while others are modest . Not all flavors stand up well to cooking , so you want to pick ones that will .
Let ’s look at the different type of Allium sativum and what salmagundi you might want to mature .
Softneck vs. Hardneck Garlic
You need to understand that Allium sativum is carve up into two main categories : softneck and hardneck . These types are similar yet have key differences that will help oneself you narrow down the bestvarieties of garlic to mature .
To make it more complicated , softneck and hardneck are then divided into subcategories – this is why it ’s puzzling for many gardeners !
Let ’s break in down these two chief types of garlic first .

Softneck Garlic
Softneck garlic grows best in warmer climates , but if you live in zones five or even four , it ’s still possible to grow this type of garlic . You merely need to tally more mulch to your garden bed .
One of the most substantial differences is the storage potentiality . Softneck garlic store well for up to one year ; this is the character of ail you come up in grocery store stores . If you require to keep garlic for year - round use , then this is the type for you .
Softneck Allium sativum also bring on more cloves per bulb , but the cloves are small , and the flavor might not be as complex or full-bodied as hardneck . One downside to softneck garlic is that it wo n’t produce garlic scape , a big fillip for many gardener .

Hardneck Garlic
Hardneck ail grow best in cold climates , thriving well in geographical zone three and up . So , most people can grow this no matter where they live . Each bulb contains several cloves , but the clove are much larger . As a solvent , Hardneck garlic bulbs have more complex , various flavors that stand out the most in dishes .
The big bonus of growing hardneck garlic is that it produces flower stalk in the outflow . Garlic scapes are viridity that grow up in the spring from the bulbs ; they taste pleasant-tasting in recipes . So it ’s like a bonus harvest !
The downside is that you wo n’t be able to store the bulbs as long . An average hardneck garlic bulb stores well for four to six months before you need to preserve it in some other form .

Is Elephant Garlic Really Garlic?
Despite the name , Elephant Garlic is n’t garlic . It ’s sometimes call buffalo Allium sativum , but it ’s simply a misnomer . These giant bulbs are a type of leek . The light bulb forms a few Syzygium aromaticum that are modest and not as complex as Allium sativum . you may practice this interchangeably with softneck garlic .
Hardneck Garlic Varieties
Hardneck garlic is divided into eight subcategories : Porcelain , Rocambole , Purple Stripe , Glazed Purple Stripe , Marbled Purple Stripe , Asiatic , Turban , and Creole .
That ’s a hatful to call up ! In addition , a list of different cultivars that come from each subcategory under each class . This get it quite intriguing to pick the one you need to grow .
Here are some of the good hardneck garlic varieties .
1. Bogatyr
Bogatyr belongs to the Marbled Purple Stripe variety , originating from Russia , so it ’s a cold - audacious potpourri . In increase , it ’s known for being a good storage hardneck Allium sativum . The bulbs have white out skin and deep purpleness strip internal wrappers . Each bulb typically has four to six clove each .
One thing to note is that the sapidity is racy and stronger than you might ask from other garlic bulbs .
2. Chesnok Red
If you ’re look for a cerise hardneck garlic form , Chesnok Red belongs to the Purple Stripe category . It harvests after in the yr because it takes more time to develop the coloring material , but it has a delectable flavour .
If you love roasted ail , Chesnok Red is an fantabulous option because it retains its flavour and texture when ridicule , so it ’s idealistic for cooking . The bulb are gravid , with between nine to ten clove .
3. French Rocambole
French Rocambole is a tasty and pretty garlic cultivar that comes in dissimilar shades of purpleness , from deep morose purpleness to pink . It has a bold but not extremely hot flavor that operate great in any dish antenna that call for peeled garlic .
4. Georgian Fire
This garlic comes from the Republic of Georgia , and it ’s known for being one of the most disease - resistant garlic change . Georgian Fire belongs to the Porcelain garlic category with a sleek - whitened wrapper . The inner wrappers are brown or purple .
This garlic cultivar is have it off for having large incandescent lamp with five to eight turgid cloves . Many gardeners say that these gloves are some of the best - sample out there , with a white - live flavor that you ’ll never forget .
5. German White
German White is a Porcelain variety of garlic have sex for being disease insubordinate with a hot and robust flavor . It put in well for up to six months , and each bulb has around four to five cloves .
German White is hugely popular ; you ’ll retrieve it at many Farmer ’s Markets throughout the country .
6. Music
This is one of the most pop Porcelain change because it ’s a reliable , hardy , flavorful garlic variety . The cloves are well-fixed to peel and lay in well equate to other hardneck miscellany ; these lightbulb often store for nine months .
The nip is n’t too strong ; it ’s like an average garlic bulb you purchase at the fund with an extra oomph .
7. Northern Quebec
Northern Quebec is a Porcelain garlic variety that originates in Canada , so it ’s dusty - hardy and rise well in northern regions . In increase , it has a strong , complex spirit that makes it a favorite .
The downside is that this type of garlic is more prone to develop mould than others .
8. Northern White Garlic
Northern White Garlic is a Porcelain hardneck ail with one of the longest storage lives for hardnecks – around eight to nine month . It ’s have it away for being an comfortable - to - grow variety with thick wrappers and around eight garlic clove .
It ’s risque Allium sativum with lots of flavors ; it ’s ideal for roasting and cooking because the flavor stands up well .
9. Vietnamese Red Garlic
Here is another hardneck ail that belongs to the Rocambole category . The purple strip cloves have a yummy , smooth , creamy texture that chefs enjoy .
Expect these clove to have a residue of sweet and zesty flavor , so it ’s thoroughgoing for all sorts of recipe . It grows best in Northern areas of the country , and it has a becoming storage lifetime , between six and eight months .
Softneck Garlic Varieties
Softneck ail is classified into three dissimilar categories : Silverskin , Artichoke , and Middle Eastern . You ’ll regain that there are well fewer named type of softneck garlic ; some say there are only two to three dozen compared to the hundreds of hardneck garlic .
1. California White
This is the market store garlic you ’ll find near you . It ’s the most coarse garlic variety grown in the United States because it ’s well-fixed to originate for everyone and produces 10 - 16 cloves per bulb . The flavor is balmy to tame , and it grows well in both warm and inhuman climates .
2. Inchelium Red
Inchelium Red is an Artichoke - eccentric ail that is actually a national gustatory modality test success ! It ’s one of the most common go - to softneck varieties to grow , and it ’s inhuman - hardy , so it farm well in northern mood .
Not only does it have a ranking store lifespan , but Inchelium Red has a toothsome soft garlic flavour .
3. Italian Late Garlic
This softneck garlic belongs to the Artichoke family . The cloves are tightly enwrap , and each bulb typically has 12 cloves . The nip are robust yet pleasing for most recipes ; they wo n’t overcome the dishes you create .
4. Nootka Rose
This is a popular Northwest heirloom garlic from the San Juan Islands , so it wo n’t get well in cold climates . Nootka Rose has a strong , barmy feeling with 10 to 20 clove per bulb ! It mature and harvests later than other varieties .
5. Silver Rose
Silver Rose is a case of softneck Allium sativum that grow well in the western and southern res publica . The plant produces mild - flavor cloves , and it ’s one of the longest storing varieties . Each bulb typically hold 10 to 12 cloves ; they await beautiful when pleach !
6. Silver White
Another softneck garlic form is Silver White , a classical selection often establish in grocery store computer memory . wait large bulbs with large Eugenia caryophyllatum that store exceptionally well , typically up to 12 month at a meter . Silver White garlic grows well in cold-blooded climates , warmer regions , and humid coastal region as well !
Picking the Right Garlic Varieties
If you ’ve never grown garlic before , you might require to try grow more than one variety of Allium sativum in your garden this class . obtain the unity that accommodate your indigence and tastebuds the expert , and remember to save the bulbs to plant subsequently !