Overview

Embark on a culinary garden adventure with our premium hardneck garlic bulbs. This carefully curated mix of non-GMO heirloom varieties is specifically selected for fall and winter planting, promising a bountiful harvest of intensely flavored garlic. Unlike the common softneck varieties often found in grocery stores, hardneck garlic is renowned for its complex, robust flavor profile and easy-to-peel cloves, making it a favorite among home gardeners and professional chefs alike. Our selection focuses on providing smaller bulbs with a higher clove count per pound, ensuring you get more planting material and a greater yield from your garden space. These fresh, whole bulbs and individual cloves are ready to be planted to grow into impressive garlic plants, offering a rewarding gardening experience and delicious results. Growing your own garlic guarantees freshness and allows you to enjoy varieties that are often unavailable in commercial markets, enhancing both your garden’s diversity and your culinary creations.

Each purchase provides a diverse selection of hardneck garlic bulbs, ensuring genetic variety and resilience in your garden. The mixed varieties are chosen for their adaptability and superior taste. Prepare your garden for a delightful harvest with these high-quality, naturally grown garlic bulbs, perfect for anyone looking to elevate their cooking with homegrown ingredients. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just starting, planting garlic is a straightforward and satisfying endeavor, yielding fresh, flavorful bulbs that store well.

Key Benefits

Our hardneck garlic bulbs offer numerous advantages for gardeners and food enthusiasts:

• Superior Flavor Profile: Hardneck varieties are celebrated for their richer, more complex, and often spicier flavor compared to their softneck counterparts. This makes them a culinary delight, adding depth to any dish.
• Excellent for Fall/Winter Planting: These bulbs are perfectly suited for autumn planting, allowing them to establish roots before winter and emerge vigorously in spring, leading to larger, healthier bulbs. This seasonal planting strategy is key for successful planting garlic.
• Non-GMO Heirloom Quality: Grown naturally without genetic modification, our heirloom bulbs preserve traditional characteristics and ensure you’re planting pure, unadulterated varieties. This commitment to quality supports sustainable gardening practices.
• High Clove Count Per Pound: While the bulbs may be smaller, they offer a higher number of individual cloves per pound, maximizing your planting potential and overall yield. This is especially beneficial for those looking to expand their garlic patch.
• Long Shelf Life Post-Harvest: Once harvested and properly cured, these hardneck garlic bulbs boast an impressive storage life, allowing you to enjoy your homegrown garlic for months. Proper storage ensures your efforts last.
• Diverse Variety Mix: Our mix includes several distinct heirloom garlic varieties such as Khabar, German Extra Hardy, Music, and Chesnok Red, providing a range of tastes and growing characteristics. This diversity adds excitement to your garden and kitchen.
• Naturally Grown: Cultivated with care and natural methods, these bulbs are free from synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, ensuring a healthy start for your plants and a wholesome product for your table.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Successful cultivation of hardneck garlic bulbs begins with proper site selection and soil preparation. Garlic thrives in full sun, requiring at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal growth and bulb development. Choose a well-draining location, as garlic will rot in waterlogged soil. Amend heavy clay soils with organic matter like compost or aged manure to improve drainage and fertility. A slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0 to 7.0) is ideal. The best time for fall planting garlic is typically from late September to November, before the first hard frost, but early enough for roots to establish. Plant individual cloves (pointy end up) 4-6 inches deep and 6 inches apart, with rows spaced 12-18 inches apart. Cover with soil and mulch heavily with straw or shredded leaves to protect from winter cold and suppress weeds.

During the growing season, consistent moisture is crucial, especially during spring when bulbs are forming. Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry, but avoid overwatering. Reduce watering as the harvest approaches in mid-summer to prevent rot and aid in bulb curing. Fertilize in early spring with a balanced organic fertilizer or a nitrogen-rich amendment. Hardneck garlic produces a flower stalk called a ‘scape’; these should be cut off when they curl to encourage the plant to put all its energy into bulb development rather than seed production. Scapes are also a delicious culinary treat! Watch for common pests like onion thrips or diseases like white rot, addressing them promptly with organic solutions. Proper care ensures a robust harvest of your non-GMO garlic.

Size & Details

This offering includes a mix of hardneck garlic bulbs, comprising both whole bulbs and individual cloves, providing flexibility for your planting needs. The bulbs are generally smaller in size, which contributes to a higher clove count per pound, maximizing your planting material. While the exact number of bulbs and cloves will vary by weight selected, you can expect a generous quantity suitable for a substantial garden patch. Hardneck garlic typically grows to a height of 18-36 inches, producing sturdy green foliage. The bulbs themselves, once mature, are usually 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter, depending on the specific varieties included in the mix and growing conditions. Expect to harvest your garlic in mid-summer, typically 8-9 months after fall planting, when the lower leaves begin to yellow and brown. The varieties in this mix are known for their vigor and adaptability, ensuring a successful growing experience for most gardeners in suitable climates. Our diverse selection ensures a range of flavors and attributes from your heirloom garlic varieties.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: How big do these hardneck garlic bulbs get? A: Once mature, the individual bulbs typically range from 1.5 to 2.5 inches in diameter, depending on growing conditions and the specific variety. The plants themselves grow 18-36 inches tall.
• Q: Is this an indoor or outdoor plant? A: Hardneck garlic bulbs are outdoor plants, best suited for garden beds. They require a period of cold dormancy (vernalization) to produce large, healthy bulbs, making them unsuitable for indoor cultivation.
• Q: How much sunlight does hardneck garlic need? A: Garlic needs full sun, which means at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day, particularly during the spring and early summer growing season, for optimal bulb development.
• Q: Is this plant easy to care for? A: Yes, planting garlic is relatively easy for gardeners of all skill levels. With proper soil preparation, adequate sunlight, and consistent watering, hardneck garlic is a low-maintenance crop that yields rewarding results.
• Q: What condition will the garlic arrive in? A: Your hardneck garlic bulbs will arrive fresh, as whole bulbs and/or individual cloves, ready for immediate planting. They are carefully packaged to ensure quality upon delivery.
• Q: When is the best time to plant hardneck garlic? A: The ideal time for fall planting garlic is in the autumn, typically from late September through November, before the ground freezes solid. This allows the roots to establish before winter, leading to better bulb development.
• Q: Will these heirloom garlic varieties survive winter in my zone? A: Hardneck garlic is generally very cold hardy and thrives in regions with cold winters. It requires a period of cold to differentiate into cloves. They are suitable for many USDA zones.
• Q: Can I use hardneck garlic in cooking? A: Absolutely! Hardneck garlic bulbs are highly prized by chefs and home cooks for their intense, complex flavors. They are excellent for all culinary applications, from roasting to stir-frying and making sauces.
• Q: What makes this a non-GMO garlic mix? A: Our non-GMO garlic mix consists of naturally grown heirloom varieties that have not been genetically altered. They represent traditional strains cultivated for their inherent characteristics and robust flavor.