Garlic planting is best performed during the month of October in most parts of the country. But, did you know that not all garlic is created equal? There are hundreds of different varieties, but not every one is right for every region of the country. Prior to planting, examine the features of hardneck vs softneck garlic to discover which type is best for you.
Hardneck vs softneck garlic — what’s the difference?
There are two main types of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Garlic is separated into these two categories based on each variety’s tendency to develop flower stalks, its hardiness, and its clove formation pattern.
Hardneck garlic features:
• Hardneck varieties develop a long flowering stem, called a scape, which eventually develops tiny bulbils at its top end. Under ground, around this central flowering stem, is a single row of cloves wrapped together in a papery sheath to form the “head” or bulb of garlic. Scapes should be cut from hardneck garlic plants in the early summer, as the production of bulbils can rob energy from the plant and result in smaller garlic heads at the end of the growing season.
• Hardneck garlic varieties tend to do best in colder climates as they are more winter hardy.
• Hardneck garlics peel easier.
• Many gardeners find that hardnecks are more flavorful than their softneck counterparts.
• Though they have fewer cloves per head than softneck types, the cloves themselves are larger on hardneck garlic varieties. Each hardneck garlic bulb has a single row of large cloves (see featured photo at the top of this post).
• Hardneck varieties do not store as well as softnecks. They begin to deteriorate and shrivel within four to six months of harvest.
• There are hundreds of named hardneck garlic varieties, including ‘Metechi‘, ‘Purple Glazer‘, ‘Siberian‘, ‘Chesnok Red‘, and ‘Spanish Roja’.
Softneck garlic features:
• Softnecks are best for warmer climates as they’re not generally as hardy.
• Softnect garlic varieties store very well, making them an ideal fit for mass production. The heads will last for nine to twelve months under ideal storage conditions (more on this below).
• Softnecks have many cloves in each head, not just a single row like hardnecks do. Some cloves are large while others are small (again, see featured photo at the top of this post).
• They do not develop a flowering stalk (scape), so their stems stay soft and flexible, making them excellent for creating braids of garlic.
• There are only two or three dozen named softneck garlic varieties, including ‘Inchelium Red‘, ‘California Softneck‘, ‘California Early‘, ‘Italian Loiacono‘, and ‘Silver White‘.
Buying garlic for planting
After making your hardneck vs softneck garlic decision, it’s time to source the bulbs. Be sure to purchase garlic for planting from a specialty garlic farm or a quality online source. Grocery store garlic may not be the best variety for your region, and it’s often treated with an anti-sprouting chemical to inhibit growth. Purchase only top-sized bulbs in good condition.
When growing garlic, it’s also important to plant more than one variety because some may succumb to diseases or they may not perform as well as expected. By having multiple garlic varieties in your garden, you can hedge your bets for a successful harvest.
Planting hardneck vs softneck garlic
No matter which type of garlic you choose, the garlic planting technique is the same. Prior to planting, crack the heads of garlic open and separate the inner cloves. Leave their papery covering intact. Plant only the largest cloves and leave the smaller ones for use in the kitchen. The cloves are planted pointy end up. Put them six inches apart and about three inches deep. A Japanese garden knife is a great garlic-planting tool because it cuts through the soil easily and you can gauge the hole depth using the markings on the blade.
Mulching garlic plants
After planting, mulch the garlic bed with two to four inches of straw or shredded leaves to suppress weed growth and conserve moisture. You can also topdress with an organic, bulb-specific, granular fertilizer like this one after planting and then again in the spring.
Harvesting and storing garlic
This brief video tutorial will show you how to harvest and cure your garlic. There’s also a clever trick for storing garlic in egg cartons to prolong the shelf life.
Harvesting is the same when it comes to hardneck vs softneck garlic. Come July, when the plants have turned 50% yellow, pull out the garlic heads and hang them upside down in a cool, well-ventilated location to cure for two weeks. Wooden laundry drying racks are very helpful for this task. Then, cut off the stalks and store the heads in a dark, well-ventilated location between 50 and 60 degrees F. Alternatively, you can braid softneck types when the stalks are still flexible and hang them in a well-ventilated, cool area out of direct sunlight for long term storage.
Homegrown garlic is much like a homegrown tomato in that there’s no comparison to store-bought. Enjoy the spicy, pungent flavor of your own hearty garlic harvest by experimenting with different hardneck vs softneck garlic varieties. Report back to us with your favorite choices.
For more on growing garlic check out these posts:
- Garlic spacing: The best spacing for big bulbs
- Planting garlic in the spring
- Three favorite garlic varieties
- More garlic-harvesting tips
Which garlic varieties are your favorite? Tell us about them in the comment section below.
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What a great article. You covered all the bases. Here in Minnesota Hardneck is a no-brainer. I have settled on a German purple variety and have been reserving the biggest bulbs for replanting for a couple of years now. A few years ago a friend went to a garlic festival and got me some bulbs. I planted 17 different varieties of hardneck, but in a raised bed that needed some fertilizing and did not get full sun. Bad experiment. Garlic needs full sun and space. I will plant this year’s crop this weekend- I usually cover with 8-10″ of straw to insulate them over the winter then pull the straw back when the frost breaks in Spring. Replace the straw when the plants are established. One tip about garlic: they store very well but eat them as fresh as you can: they are never as good.
Ty for this! I live in MN too and was wondering if there were anything I could plant over the winter. Looks like Garlic! Any other good ones you reccomend?
Our article on Perennial Vegetables would have some good choices for you. https://savvygardening.com/perennial-vegetables/
I live in Hawaii, I would like to try growing them. Can you please give me some directions on which one I should try?
Please advise…
Thank you
In your warm climate, I would suggest growing hardneck garlics and “tricking” them into thinking they’ve gone through a winter. Put them in a bag in the back of the refrigerator for about 6 weeks, then plant them into the garden. This mimics that natural cold period the cloves have to go through in order to produce a bulg.
Hi Savvygardening, what a great site. I live in Devon UK. Having grown garlic for many years and have tried different varieties but late last year I planted a new variety Casablanca. I planted some in the ground and a few in pots. Being impatient I have today lifted one from a pot and to my surprise it was a really nice sized garlic and the taste was not too strong but very nice. I hope that as it matures late June or July it’s strength will increase. Also I would like to say that your description of Hardneck or Softneck makes it very easy to recognise. Regards Alan
Thanks, Alan. Sounds like your Casablanca garlic is great!
Great informative column on garlic,really explained all that I need to know and in an easy way thank you
You are most welcome. 🙂
Thank you Jessica. I never knew there was a difference in the varieties of garlic, but I did notice that sometimes I had to contend with a central stalk, and sometimes I did not. Thank you for revealing the mystery.
Thanks for helping this newbie food gardener sort out the garlic questions. I am preordering my fall planting garlic now. Please sign me up as a subscriber. Best wishes! Heather 🙂
Would it work to plant garlic in container/planter in zone 5? Should I protect it somehow?
Yes. You can grow garlic in containers, but I suggest you insulate the roots by sinking the pot into the compost pile, the ground, or by wrapping the outside of the pot with bubblewrap or a piece of fencing filled with straw.
I did some research before I purchased my garlic bulbs. And my garlic bulbs arrived this morning. Before I grow them I want to make sure I am clear about the difference and where and when to grow them. And I’m so happy to have read your article, which is the easiest and best explanation! Btw, I’m in southern oregon.
How do I keep garlic so l can plant them next fall .I live in pa zone 6a
It’s very difficult to keep them for planting in a home environment. Unless you can obtain an exact perfect humidity level like commercial growers do, it’s quite a challenge. I’ve heard about people who dip the bulbs in beeswax to keep them from drying out, but I haven’t tried this myself.
Hi,
Interesting garlic section. Although I planted enough of last year’s crop for the next season, I still have three braids of garlic left which I’ll never eat as they are starting to sprout. So I’m peeling them and freezing flat, then will put into bags and just take out how many I’ll use for that day.
I did notice that many of my cloves were a light green at the pointed end – is that a sign they were left in the ground too long and should have been lifted earlier?
Mike
(Norfolk, UK)
I believe that could be due to one of two factors. If the cloves weren’t planted deeply enough, their tips may have been very close to the soil’s surface which means the tops of the heads might have received some light. That could result in some greening. Another possibility is that it’s a varietal issue. I’ve noticed that some garlic varieties exhibit a green coloration even in storage.
Hello,
I live in South Texas- San Antonio area. I really want to grow garlic but have never gotten to. Is it at all possible to plant it in early spring or do you really need to plant it in October?
Thank you!
Here is an article on our site about how to plant garlic in the spring. I think you’ll find it answers your question well: https://savvygardening.com/planting-garlic-in-the-spring/
Thank you for the information. I have hard neck garlic, I didn’t know what it was. I gathered a few bulbs from my grandmothers yard 40 years ago. If she were living, she would be 126 yo! So this is probably an heirloom. It never stops spreading!