I have grown garlic for years and consider it the easiest vegetable crop to grow. I have always been taught that, given our northern zone 5 climate, we could only grow hardneck garlic. Turns out that this is a myth.
Both the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Filaree Farms (keepers of the largest privately held collection of garlic in North America) agree that both hardneck and softneck can be grown in colder climates.
Hardneck Garlic
Hardneck garlic varieties (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon) tend to form bulbs with fewer but larger cloves. They form a flower scape (ie flower stock) in mid summer. When the bulbs are harvested, you will see the tough flower stem running down the middle of the bulb, as illustrated in the above image. These varieties are reported to be more cold hardy than softneck garlic.
Softneck Garlic
Softneck garlic varieties (Allium sativum var. sativum) do not produce a flower scape. When they are dry, the center stem becomes very soft and can be used to braid bulbs together. Most of the garlic in grocery stores is a softneck variety. Most sources say that softneck varieties produce more cloves per bulb but this is not strictly correct since the number of cloves depends very much on the growing condition. In the warmer south they do form more cloves than the harneck, but in colder climates the number of cloves for both varieties is about the same. Softnecks also have a longer storage life. The variety named Pioneer is reported to be hardy to zone 3.
Growing Garlic – Hardneck or Softneck?
Given the above descriptions it would seem quite easy to differentiate hardneck from softneck but that may not be true. The University of Minnesota reports that “Climate can have a significant impact on garlic flower stalk formation as well as garlic taste. For example, a variety may be considered a softneck in one location, but in other locations it may produce a flower stalk”, making it a hardneck.
Given the fact that softneck garlic grown in the north forms fewer larger cloves, stores longer, and does not flower so you don’t have to remove the flower, it would seem to be the better choice. Odd that most northern home gardeners around here grow hardneck garlic!! Is there a reason for this, or is it just the result of believing in the myth?
Please let me know if there is a reason why softnecks are not grown more in the north.
Right Time to Plant Garlic
When is the right time to plant garlic? Here is a study I did to determine the best time; Planting Garlic – When is the Right Time?
Garlic as a Companion Plant
Garlic is one of the most popular companion plants. It can be grown next to most plants as a natural pest and fungus deterrent. It takes up little space, is not fussy about soil and can grow in most conditions.
But does it actually work as a companion plant? Garlic – the King of Companion Planting
Garlic Nematodes
If you grow garlic you should learn about the garlic nematode – it can devastate your crop.
If the above video does not play, try: https://youtu.be/hJdJV95WEMU
References:
1) Photo Source: Jeremy Keith
Most likely hard neck garlic is grown in the North because of tradition, but the scapes are also an incentive for many. It makes great pesto.
I actually moved here from a hot southwest climate and was discussing companion planting with some people who grow quite a bit. They themselves use hardneck as companion plants to other plants for the benefit of the other plants and because the “flowers are pretty”. In other words, one might plant hardneck with roses as a companion plant to control pests and because of the benefit of having a pretty contrast flower with the roses. I plan to do hardneck in the front garden with my roses and soft neck in the back garden with my veggies and herbs.
Garlic does work as a companion plant. https://www.gardenmyths.com/garlic-king-companion-planting/
Garlic does not normally flower. https://www.gardenmyths.com/real-garlic-seed/
I enjoy larger, tastier garlic cloves and absolutely love garlic scapes. No messing around with those tiny little bulbs. And you can only get hardneck varieties from local sources. They can keep up to 10 months if stored properly, so the storage argument isn’t good enough for me to grow soft neck. I’m now left with “because you can braid em.” Meh.
Those are enough reasons for me anyway.
I would be happy to know more about growing of gourmet garlic in Kenya
And … The hardnecks are also easier for me to use without waste, since the smaller cloves on the insides of the softneck bulb, can be tiresome to peel and use.
I find the flavor of the Hardneck variety I grow is stronger … more garlicky (?), and I also want the longer storage characteristics of the softnecks, plus the fun of braiding, so I grow both.
I think the hardneck I grow was originally Music, but it was sourced from a local CSA one year, and they thought so, but weren’t positive, since they had been growing it locally for 10+ years.
(SC Pennsylvania, USA … Zone 6a/b)
Most people in colder zones believe that we need to grow hardnecks – I always did. Turns out we can grow softnecks as well
https://www.gardenmyths.com/growing-garlic-softneck-hardneck/
As far as I know, the reason most people grow hardneck is BECAUSE they can remove the flowers. The flowers are sold in farmers markets and grocery stores as “Scapes”. That way you get two uses from the same plant.
As I mentioned in the post, that may be a common practice. Here in zone 5 we grow hardscape because everybody believes, incorrectly, that we can’t grow softscape.
Yes, I did see that. Sorry, maybe I was over explaining. All I meant was that when something seems strange just follow the money. I don’t find it odd that farmers would want a second product from their plants. The average consumer doesn’t know enough about garlic to know that the heads with 12 tiny cloves are avoidable and therefore don’t demand it from their suppliers. It doesn’t cost them any extra time to plant, fertilizer or watering so it just makes sense to grow the plant that provides two harvests. *shrug*