Not all garlic is alike, in fact there are
hundreds of varieties to choose from, and Hardneck garlics are on their way to
the top.
Garlic is split into two major categories:
Hardneck garlic and softneck garlic. Softneck garlics are most common and
commercially grown in warmer climates like California, Mexico and China. They
are widely known and are usually what you will find at your local supermarket.
When people think of garlic it is often a softneck. They are beautiful in their
own way, particularly in braids.
Hardneck garlics are unique. They cannot be
grown commercially and get their name through the hard wood like stem that
comes from the top of the bulb. Hardneck garlic also produces a scape which displays
the flower at it’s culmination. This is exclusive to hardneck varieties.
Hardneck garlic also produces flavors that are much bolder and have amazing
character. The cloves are often very huge. These types are often sought after
by gourmet chefs.
There are many categories of Hardneck
garlics, here are some of my favorites: Rocamboles, Porcelains, Standard Purple
Stripe, and Marbled Purple Stripe.
Rocambole Hardneck garlics have a unique
amazing flavor, slightly weaker in heat but excellent flavor. They have very
large cloves with brown clove skins and rounded tops and peal easily In fact
very easily. The easy peeling cloves give great convenience but due to the
loose wrappers there storage is very short you don’t see quality Rocamboles
past December. They are a great example of a true hardneck garlic.
Porcelains are very stunning as well, they
have huge cloves with an average of four cloves per bulb. These have been known
to have the highest Allicin content, which gives the highest medicinal
properties. Their bulb wrappers are usually a gorgeous white, hence the name
porcelains, they are also the tallest plant, at full maturity you can have the
top of the bulbil head reach seven feet tall. Everyone should have Porcelains
in their garden, absolutely amazing.
Standard Purple Stripes, these are probably
the most beautiful hardneck garlics around. Their flavor is absolutely amazing,
their bulb wrappers are deep purples, and fantastically productive. They have
an average of eight to ten cloves per bulb making your own reseeding very cost
effective. They have great storage life, and are a must in everybody’s garden.
Marbled Purple Stripes should begin their
conversation with… Does size matter? If so Marbled Purple Stripes are your
winner. Marbled purple stripes can have impressive size reaching well over
three inches in diameter very consistently. They are known
by their sheer power, their flavor is very popular and packs a punch that
anyone who indulges will remember.
Hardnecks will soon be at the top of
everyone list, once you have experienced their beauty and flavor the ordinary
softneck will leave you disappointed and bored.
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