Beginner Garlic Growers, Which Variety to Choose?

Posted on 13. Oct, 2011 by Tracey in How To Grow Veg

I’m a beginner Garlic grower and I’m not afraid to admit it, sounds like I was speaking at Garlic Anonymous or something then. Its all new to me, I do like garlic but don’t cook with it, mostly because my other half doesn’t like the smell of it and I’m not really sure how to flavour a dish with it either. So I’m diving into the world of growing garlic, but there’s so many varieties to choose from, where do I start?

Explaining Garlic Types

Softneck

Softneck are the common type of Garlic found in supermarkets and easier to grow. Softnecks have layers of papery skin surrounding the cloves which is why they last longer when storing. Softnecks can be braided when storing. There are also two types of Softneck variety, they are called:

1. Silverskin – Most common, cloves good for storing,
2. Artichoke – Milder flavour and larger cloves.

Hardneck

Hardnecks are usually grown for their colourful cloves and flavoursome cooking varieties. They have a very thin layer that holds a smaller number of cloves together and therefore cannot be stored for long. Hardnecks have a ‘scape’ which is like a stem that curls at the top. There are also three types of Hardneck variety, they are called:

1. Rocambole – very thin skin and few cloves
2. Porcelain – shiny white porcelain skin wrap
3. Purple Stripe – has bright purple stripy markings on cloves.

Garlic Names

Garlic varieties are named after the location they are grown in, which gives clues as to the climate they are use to.

In Britain, Seed supplier companies often have varieties from France and Italy mainly but also from Europe because the climate is similar to the UK.

Choosing a Variety from how you want to use it

It worth thinking what you will be using the garlic for, how mild or intensive you want the garlic flavour, whether you want to store it for a long period or not, are you using it for cooking etc. Think about what is most important and choose a variety based on that criteria. I have listed a few of the main UK suppliers and garlic variety characteristics. So see if any of the following Garlic varieties catch your eye and find out what I chose at the end of this post.

Dobies.co.uk Garlic Varieties

• Softneck: Solent White (from Isle of Wight, good crop with large tasty cloves)
• Softneck: Arno (from France, sweet medium flavoured with RHS Garden Merit Award)
• Hardneck: Vayo (from France, lovely purple striped bulbs and great mild flavour
• Hardneck: Sprint (from France, fast growing, large white bulbs with purple sprays.

Suttons.co.uk Garlic Varieties

• Semi-Softneck: Purple Wight (from Isle of Wight, purple striped and good storer)
• Sultop Garlic Hardneck, pretty red skinned and easy to peel variety

Unwins Garlic Variety

• Hardneck: Lautrec Wight (from Isle of Wight, deep pink cloves, great flavour for cooking)
• Not a true garlic: Elephant Garlic (Used in cooking it is mild and sweet when roasted)

Mr Fothergills Garlic Varieties

• Softneck: Avignon Wight (from Isle of Wight, big bulbs, strong flavour, vigorous grower)
• Hardneck: Chesnock Wight (originally Ukraine, now from Isle of Wight, robust bulb)
• Softneck: Tuscany Wight (From Italy, grown in Isle of White, white bulbs, popular flavour)

DT Browns Seeds Garlic Variety

• Hardneck: Edenrose (from France, lovely rosy pink cloves and white thin skin, mild flavour)

Garden4Less Garlic Varieties

• Softneck: Marco (Strong flavour and long storer)
• Softneck: Cristo (From France, pink cloves, white skin and strong flavour)
• Softneck: Germidour (From France, large mild bulbs)

Simply Seeds Garlic Variety

• Softneck: Picardy Wight (From Isle of Wight, smoky pink cloves, strong flavour)

The Really Garlicky Company Garlic Variety

• Hardneck: Music (Grown in Scotland, intense sweet garlic flavour and easy to peel cloves)

The Garlic Farm Garlic Variety

• Hardneck: Morado (From Spain, white with purple flat cloves)

Please note: The supplier website links above may link to empty pages when the garlic bulbs are no longer in stock.

For a range of Garlic Varieties from USA, try these suppliers:

• Territorial Seed
• Burpee Gardening

My Choice of Garlic

Vayo - Garlic from Dobies

Phew, after all that, I wanted to grow Music from The Really Garlicky Company but wasn’t sure whether the climate in the southern UK was going to be too warm for this variety (as its grown in Scotland).

Instead I’ve decided to choose the lovely purple stripy garlic bulbs of Vayo by Dobies. As they are a hardneck variety, they will be good to cook with and have a mild flavour.

I’ll be planting my garlic bulbs shortly, but for those who want to plant now, here’s a video on Growing Garlic: Vegetable Seeds to Sow and Plant in November.

For other Vegetables To Sow, try my Winter Veg Guides.

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