Growing garlic—what’s the difference between softneck and hardneck varieties?

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organic gardening / articles / Growing garlic—what’s the difference between softneck and hardneck varieties?

Growing garlic—what’s the difference between softneck and hardneck varieties?

Aug 04, 2011 - Charlotte from Peaceful Valley


	Clove arrangement varies in different groups of garlic.

Growing garlic in your own garden lets you play with flavors you cannot find at stores. We carry more organic seed garlic than any other garden company, at the best prices, so plunge in and get garlicky.

How to grow garlic

The nuts and bolts of how to grow garlic and harvest garlic are right here for you, in our new video and our downloadable Garlic Growing Guide.

The question is, which varieties of garlic seed do you want to plant? Softneck or hardneck or both?

Garlic has a neck?

By the time you see garlic in the store it has been trimmed, but there is still a papery tuft that stands above the bulb. That’s the covering of the “neck” of the garlic.

Garlic also comes with different colored skins around the cloves. The cloves themselves are always a creamy white.

softneck seed garlic Softneck garlic

This is the garlic you’ll find in most grocery stores. The bulb has a mild flavor. A great virtue of the softneck garlic (Allium sativum ssp. sativum) is that it stores very well. Since the necks are (literally) soft, you can cut them nice and long for braiding. A braid of garlic makes a winning kitchen gift for friends and family!

Which to choose? California Early White has no hot bite in its flavor, grows rapidly and is ready to harvest early. If making garlic braids is your top priority, plant California Late White. You’ll get a stronger flavor with this garlic, and it does better in warm climates than the Early variety.

hardneck seed garlic Hardneck garlic

Hardnecks (Allium sativum ssp. ophioscorodon) are closer to wild garlic, with complex flavors. These are the garlics that some compare to wines with subtle differences that reflect the regional soil and weather patterns. One simple benefit to the cook is the way some of their skins slip off smoothly. Hardnecks do not store as long as softnecks—cure them, eat them within a few months, and get to know their distinctive flavors.

Our Fall Catalog 2012 and our Seed Garlic page have information about each of the hardneck varieties we carry.

elephant seed garlic What about elephant garlic?

This big guy is technically in the leek family, but you’d never know by the look or the taste.

Kids love harvesting this giant of the garlic patch, and it keeps well too, with a mild flavor.

Our garlic combo pack

Still can’t decide? That’s why we created our Garlic Combo Pack, to let you try a little of this and a little of that—at a bargain price! It’s a gastronomical delight featuring organic California Early White softnecks, organic Russian Red and organic Purple Italian hardnecks, a conventional Elephant garlic, and even some organic French Red Shallots for delicate flavors.

growing great garlic book ron engeland Our favorite garlic book

It’s hard to keep Growing Great Garlic on the shelves here. Ron Engeland’s popular book is the ultimate guide for the organic garlic grower; in addition to practical advice, you’ll learn more about garlic in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Welcome to the world of seed garlic!

Plant some garlic this year, keep track of what you like, and experiment with new varieties in the years ahead. Once you start growing garlic at home you’ll be spoiled by having your own cured garlic to cook with, in such a range of flavors.

Categories: Seed Garlic, Hardneck Seed Garlic, Softneck Seed Garlic, Elephant Seed Garlic, Organic Seed Garlic, Organic Seed Shallots, Container Gardening, Organic Gardening 101, Urban Gardening & farming

Bridget Lloyd Says:

Apr 15th, 2012 at 10:51 am

Hi,

I have never planted garlic before. I don’t know variety will grow well in zone 11. Can you help?

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Sep 9th, 2012 at 7:42 pm

Bridget, The softneck garlics are more tolerant of warm winters, and within that group California Late would be your best bet.

ROBERT L. GUARALDI Says:

Sep 22nd, 2012 at 3:05 pm

I AM ALWAYS LOOKING FOR NEW INFORMATION , ESPECIALLY INFO ON GARLIC. IT’S ALWAYS A HIT AND A MISS FOR ME. LAST SEASON “HORRIBLE” HEADS DID NOT FORM. HARDNECK AND SOFT DID NOT PRODUCE ANYTHING. I AM AMENDING THE SOIL(IN A NEW LOCATION),USING COMPOST AND STEER MANURE.I’LL PLANT IN OCT. I WILL HOPE FOR THE BEST. LOOKING FORWARD TO MORE INFO FROM YOU. THANK YOU

Dylan M. Says:

Oct 25th, 2012 at 11:18 pm

Hi,

I am located near Los Angeles in zone 9. I have grown garlic last year and it was pretty successful. I think the garlic was what you typically see in grocery stores. I want to try something more unique and different. What would you suggest? And is it really not recommended to try and grow a hardneck variety in a warmer climate?

Thank you

Charlotte, Peaceful Valley Says:

Nov 4th, 2012 at 7:39 am

Robert, We hope you have a good crop this year! As with all vegetables, it’s important to rotate your planting site for garlic, to avoid soil-borne diseases. You’re wise to enrich the soil too; garlic likes soil full of compost. In fact, a recent video on our Facebook page showed Doug Oster from Pittsburgh, PA planting garlic in about 8 inches of compost above his garden soil. We’re going to try that. We will keep the garlic info coming!

Susan Evans Says:

Nov 13th, 2012 at 4:36 pm

thanks! I never knew there were so many varieties, and the planting video was very informative

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Nov 28th, 2012 at 1:20 pm

Susan, Glad we were able to introduce you to the world of garlic! Let us know how your crop turns out.

Elizabeth Says:

Jan 2nd, 2013 at 3:17 pm

I want to grow the hardneck garlic to harvest the curly scapes. Can I still plant them now? I’m in zone 8, Portland Oregon

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Jan 2nd, 2013 at 8:36 pm

Elizabeth, Yes, as long as you can work the soil you can plant garlic now. Should not be a problem in Portland, OR. If you do have soggy soil, I recommend Russian Red as a variety. Our garlic planting video has helpful tips, including soaking the cloves overnight in Liquid Kelp before planting. Enjoy your scapes and heads of garlic!

Matt La Posta Says:

Jan 12th, 2013 at 10:37 pm

We planted so much garlIc this year, I think it’s going to be a good year for all the hardneck varieties we are trying out from Peaceful Valley. Anyone that has not yet planted garlic in their garden needs to put some in ASAP!!!! Garlic is by far my favorite plant to grow for many reasons—a strong plant that doesn’t need to be pampered, is good for you, insects and pests usually leave it alone, stores well without refrigeration and best of all it’s the ultimate user friendly plant for seed saving!!! Plant a variety once and you never have to buy it again!! I decided to plant over 100 varieties this year just so I don’t have to think about trying to get my hands on every variety I can find ( I thought I would sleep better knowing I have so many different garlics… And I do!! ) . Thanks for getting me hooked on growing garlic Peaceful Valley! I’ll be growing garlic the entire rest of my life. Garlic makes you feel good! Garlic for life! Garlic us Life!!!!

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Jan 13th, 2013 at 1:22 am

Matt, Thanks for the garlicky shout-out! 100 varieties? Wow.

Amanda from Chicago Says:

Jan 14th, 2013 at 11:31 am

What varieties can you grow in Illinois? Should I start now, in 20 degree weather? Thank you for your help!

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Jan 18th, 2013 at 5:10 pm

Amanda, Any of the hardnecks would do well in Illinois. You can plant as long as you can work the soil—so I assume your ground is frozen at your current temps. Come on back in the fall and get some to plant just after your first frost. We always have the best choices and lowest prices for organic garlic seed.

Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:

Jan 28th, 2013 at 12:32 am

Dylan M., The “grocery store garlic” is probably California White soft neck. Softneck garlic is the best to grow in your area. You can also grow hardneck, for more flavors, but your crops will not be as big. I would try any of them except Bogatyr which really enjoys cold weather.