Growing garlic in your own garden is one of the best and easiest things you can do. When you plant garlic, one of the most important things you need to do is pick the right bulbs for your growing conditions. The tasty bulbs can be used in many recipes and are a fresh, homegrown alternative to store-bought garlic. With hundreds of varieties of garlic to choose from, it can be hard for beginners to know where to begin. This guide will show you how to choose the best garlic bulbs for a successful crop.
Hardneck vs Softneck Garlic
The first decision to make is whether to grow hardneck or softneck garlic varieties. These two subspecies have some distinct differences:
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Hardneck garlic produces a firm, central stalk called a scape It has a richer, more complex flavor profile compared to softneck Hardneck bulbs have 4-12 large cloves and do not store as long. It performs best in northern climates.
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Softneck garlic does not produce a scape. It has a milder flavor, more numerous and smaller cloves (10-40 per bulb) and stores longer than hardneck. Softneck is traditionally used for braiding and thrives in warmer regions.
Hardneck garlic tends to be easier to grow and more winter hardy, making it a good choice for northern gardeners. Softneck may perform better in southern zones where winters are mild. Gardeners in zones 5 and below will have the best luck with hardy hardneck varieties.
Selecting the Right Garlic Variety
Within hardneck and softneck types, there are many specific garlic varieties to choose from. Key factors to consider when selecting a variety include:
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Your growing zone – Match the variety to your regional climate. Some do better in colder zones while others thrive in warmth.
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Flavor profile – Garlic flavors range from mildly sweet to pungent and spicy. Consider your taste preferences.
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Number of cloves per bulb – Varieties produce varying clove counts, from 4 up to 40. More cloves can mean more plants.
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Storage life – Hardneck stores 4-8 months while softneck stores 8-12 months typically.
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Performance: Talk to growers in your area or read descriptions of different types to find out which ones do best where you live.
Music, Romanian Red, German Red, and Purple Stripe are all popular hardneck varieties. Types of artichoke, like Inchelium Red and Silverwhite, are the best softnecks. It’s smart to try a few different kinds to find the one you like best.
Sourcing High Quality Garlic Bulbs
For a healthy garlic crop, the planting stock must be of high quality. Don’t buy bulbs from the store because they might not be strong enough or may have diseases on them. The best sources for seed garlic are:
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Reputable online sellers – Companies like Filaree Farm, Keene Garlic, and Territorial Seed Co specialize in garlic for planting.
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Local farmers – Get locally adapted varieties.
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Seed catalogs – Companies like MI Gardener sell smaller quantities if you want to try multiple kinds.
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Saving your own – Hang back the biggest, healthiest bulbs from each harvest to replant.
Look for large, disease-free bulbs. Bigger cloves translate into more energy for better growth. Inspect bulbs and discard any with signs of mold, rot, or damage. High-quality seed garlic gives your crop the best chance of success.
With hundreds of garlic varieties, choosing the right bulbs for your climate can seem tricky. Focus on hardy hardneck types for northern zones and softneck for southern gardens. Select varieties suited to your growing conditions and flavor preferences. And source clean, vigorous bulbs from reputable sellers or local growers. Taking the time to start with top-quality garlic bulbs will pay off with a bountiful harvest of this flavorful and easy-to-grow crop.
Seed Companies and Local Farmers
I’ve found that most seed suppliers will have your basic selection of garlic. My friend and student of my online classes, Alicia DeVore of CreateMyGarden.net shared with me that the best garlic she grew came from a local farmer. This is something to consider if you’re in a climate where garlic is harder to grow. More than likely, the local farms offers garlic that thrives in your area.
Another option is to purchase garlic from farms that specialize in seed garlic production. Filaree Farms and Keene Garlic are two reputable sources of garlic seed. For my Canadian friends, consider John Boy Farms.
If you are interested in growing garlic but don’t have the space or budget for an entire pound of seed, I recommend MI Gardener for smaller quantities. One of the things I love about purchasing from here is that I’m able to buy one or two bulbs and try my hand at many varieties at once in my garden. My new favorite — Music — came from here.
I do want to add a quick note about buying your garlic in the grocery store. More often than not, this is the Silverskin softneck garlic and may not thrive in your climate. Also, this garlic is typically treated so that it doesn’t sprout. This could be a problem when you’re trying to grow it.
Finally, the garlic you purchase in the grocery store — even if it’s organic — isn’t certified disease free. You really don’t know what you’re introducing into your soil and for me, this just isn’t worth it. The only time I’d consider growing garlic that wasn’t certified disease-free is in a container. But as you can see in this video, my grow bag garlic last year actually performed the worst of my tests.
Hopefully, you now know more about the different kinds of garlic and whether they will do well in your area. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions, and don’t forget to tag us in your social media posts of your garlic harvest!
Where to Buy Garlic Seed
Watch This Before You Plant Garlic
FAQ
Which garlic is best to plant?
Select only larger outer cloves of the best garlic bulbs for planting. The larger cloves yield larger size, mature bulbs at harvest.
What is the best tasting garlic?
Georgian Fire: Each bulb is big, with five to eight big cloves inside. It’s often called one of the tastiest varieties, with a white-hot…
What month do you plant garlic bulbs?
When to Plant Garlic: Hardiness Zones 1 through 6: Early October to late October to early November; late November to early December; zones 9 and 10. For 10 weeks before planting, put the cloves in the fridge.
Is it better to grow hardneck or softneck garlic?
Softneck generally produces more reliably in warmer climates while hardneck is well-adapted to frigid winters. Softneck bulbs store longer, but the cloves they produce are smaller, though there are more of them per bulb. In our USDA Zone 4a, softneck can be a bit finicky. Flavors also vary quite a bit among garlic varieties.