Top 10 Hardneck Garlic Varieties: Enhance Your Garden

Hardneck garlic varieties offer an array of flavors, growing characteristics, and culinary uses. This article explores ten popular hardneck garlic varieties and provides information on their cultivation and benefits.

Understanding Hardneck Garlic Varietes

Hardneck garlic plants, classified as A. sativum var. ophioscorodon, are characterized by their long flowering stems, known as scapes. These scapes must be removed to encourage bulb development but can be utilized in cooking similarly to green onions. Hardneck garlic cloves are often more flavorful than their softneck counterparts.

Planting Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck garlic can be planted in either the spring or fall, although fall planting typically yields larger, more flavorful bulbs.

Caring for Hardneck Garlic Plants

To maintain healthy hardneck garlic plants, provide them with nitrogen fertilizer if leaves begin to yellow. Water the plants every three to five days from mid-May to June during their active bulbing phase. Most garlic varieties require approximately 90 days of active growth before they are ready for harvest.

10 Hardneck Garlic Varieties

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Hardneck garlic varieties are known for their unique characteristics, such as long flowering stems called “scapes” and flavorful cloves. This section will explore ten notable hardneck garlic varieties, detailing their native areas, USDA growing zones, heights, and sun exposure requirements.

Carpathian

Native Area: Carpathian Mountains of Poland
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 12–18 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Carpathian is a very flavorful, spicy heirloom garlic variety often classified as Rocambole garlic. It has medium-sized bulbs with eight or nine cloves and grows well in cold-weather regions. Though it has thin husks and doesn’t store particularly well, it is an excellent garlic for pickling.

Spanish Roja

Native Area: Developed in Pacific Northwest, likely from parent species from Greece
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 18–24 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Spanish Roja is a spicy, full-flavored heirloom variety that produces large bulbs. It has dark green foliage, and the papery bulb wrappers have purple and brown colors. Spanish Roja thrives in cold-weather climates but struggles in warm-winter areas. It is a slow-maturing garlic, requiring 240 days from fall planting.

German Extra-Hardy

Native Area: Northern Germany
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 24–30 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

German Extra-Hardy is a popular porcelain garlic variety known for its excellent, relatively mild taste. It is one of the best-storing hardneck varieties and stores well for up to ten months. The outer husk is pure white, while the inner clove skins are red. This garlic is spicier than those in the Rocambole group.

Georgian Crystal

Native Area: Mountainous regions in the Republic of Georgia
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 24–36 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Georgian Crystal garlic has a mild flavor, even when raw, and a buttery taste when cooked. This porcelain garlic variety has large bulbs with four to six cloves per bulb and stores well for a hardneck variety. Its skin is translucent white.

Siberian

Native Area: Eastern Europe and Russia
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 18–24 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Siberian garlic is a mild heirloom variety that thrives even in the coldest climates. It is considered one of the most healthful garlic varieties. Siberian garlic has large bulbs with five to nine cloves per bulb. The taste is subtle when cooked but becomes spicier when eaten raw.

Chesnok Red

Native Area: Republic of Georgia
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 18–24 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Chesnok Red is a gourmet, purple-stripe garlic variety known for its award-winning, onion-like taste. It is excellent for baking and roasting. The bulbs are medium-sized with reddish-purple skins and eight to 20 thin cloves per bulb.

Music (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Music’)

Music is a popular hardneck garlic variety known for its robust flavor and large cloves. This porcelain-type garlic is often favored for its strong garlic taste with a slightly sweet undertone.

Native Area: Italy, named after Al Music, a Canadian grower who helped popularize it in North America
USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
Height: 24–36 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Purple Glazer (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Purple Glazer’)

Purple Glazer is an attractive hardneck garlic variety, classified as a glazed purple stripe garlic. It has shiny, vivid purple and silver-striped skins, making it perfect for decorative use. The cloves have a mellow, rich flavor that adds depth to various dishes.

Native Area: Uzbekistan
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 18–24 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Bogatyr (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Bogatyr’)

Bogatyr is a marbled purple stripe garlic, originating from Russia. It’s well-known for its exceptionally strong and spicy flavor, which intensifies when cooked. This variety is also highly resistant to diseases and pests.

Native Area: Russia
USDA Growing Zones: 3–8
Height: 24–30 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Metechi (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Metechi’)

Metechi is another marbled purple stripe garlic variety, characterized by its intense flavor and heat. This variety matures earlier than many other hardneck types and produces large bulbs with fewer but sizable cloves.

Native Area: Republic of Georgia
USDA Growing Zones: 4–9
Height: 18–24 inches
Sun Exposure: Full sun

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is the difference between hardneck and softneck garlic?

A1: Hardneck garlic varieties have a stiff central stalk and produce fewer, larger cloves per bulb. They also have scapes, which are flower stalks that can be harvested and used in cooking. Softneck garlic varieties have a more flexible stalk and produce more cloves per bulb, with smaller and irregular-sized cloves. Softneck garlic is generally easier to grow and has a longer shelf life, making it more common in supermarkets.

Q2: Can I grow hardneck garlic in a warm climate?

A2: Hardneck garlic varieties typically perform better in colder climates. However, some hardneck varieties, like Spanish Roja and Georgian Crystal, can also be grown in warmer regions. It’s essential to select a variety suitable for your specific growing zone.

Q3: When is the best time to plant hardneck garlic?

A3: Hardneck garlic is usually planted in the fall, just before the first frost. This allows the garlic to establish roots before winter and start growing early in spring. Fall planting generally results in larger bulbs and more flavorful cloves.

Q4: How do I harvest and store hardneck garlic?

A4: Hardneck garlic is typically ready for harvest after 90 days of active growth. The leaves will start to turn yellow and die back, signaling that it’s time to harvest. Carefully dig up the bulbs and let them dry in a shaded, well-ventilated area for 2 to 3 weeks. Once dry, trim the stalks and roots, and store the bulbs in a cool, dark, and dry place.

Q5: How do I use garlic scapes in cooking?

A5: Garlic scapes, the flowering stalks of hardneck garlic, can be harvested when they are young and tender. They have a mild garlic flavor and can be used in various dishes, such as pesto, stir-fries, soups, and salads. Simply chop them up and use them similarly to green onions or chives.

Q6: Are there any health benefits associated with hardneck garlic?

A6: Hardneck garlic, like other garlic varieties, is rich in health-promoting compounds such as allicin and various amino acids. Garlic has been linked to various health benefits, including supporting immune function, lowering high blood pressure, and potentially reducing cholesterol levels.

See Also: How to Grow Garlic in Water

Conclusion

Hardneck garlic varieties offer gardeners and cook various flavors, growing characteristics, and culinary possibilities. By understanding the specific properties of each variety, one can select the ideal garlic for their garden and kitchen. In addition to its culinary versatility, garlic also offers numerous health benefits, making it a valuable addition to any diet.

References:1, 2, 3

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