You may have heard people referring to garlic as hardneck or softneck, but what do these terms mean, and why do you need to know the difference? Each subtype has its pros and cons. Understanding the differences between the two types can empower gardeners in making sound decisions when purchasing seed, caring for their crop, and in the curing and storage stages. Garlic is a temperate climate crop, but each subtype has different, though overlapping, range within the temperate regions. Growers in the extreme North OR South of temperate climate ranges need to pay extra attention to which type they grow!
Commonalities between types:
First, it helps to understand what each subtype shares. And that’s a lot! General cultivation holds the same between subtypes: Garlic is a fall-planted crop, with individual cloves planted after first frost, 2-4" deep and 4-8" apart. Cloves are mulched to help protect them against harsh cold weather. Above ground growth begins in early spring and continues into summer. In late June or early July, the plants will begin to yellow at the base and slowly die back. This signals that growth has stopped and plants are beginning dormancy. At this stage, garlic plants are harvested, cured, and stored!
Hardneck garlic at-a-glance
Hardneck garlic is rarely found in stores, but is prized for its robust flavor; large, easily peeled cloves; and scape production. Hardneck varieties are less domesticated than softneck, meaning it’s more closely related to it’s wild ancestors. This is a special crop, only available to home gardeners and farmers’ market customers!
Pros of growing hardneck garlic:
Well-suited to cold climates
Easy to peel cloves save labor in the kitchen
Strong, unique flavors
Scape production gives a unique second crop.
Cons of growing hardneck garlic:
Short storage life.
Large cloves and low number of cloves per bulb increase amount/cost of seed needed.
Need to buy seed from specialty retailer OR local grower.
If not removed, scape production can lower overall yield.
True to name, has a hard neck, unable to be braided into traditional braids for curing.
Common Varieties of hardneck garlic:
Music
German Extra Hardy
Chesnok Red
Siberian
Georgian Crystal
Rocambole
& More!
Softneck Garlic At-A-Glance
Softneck garlic encompasses our familiar grocery store varieties. These varieties have a long history of cultivation, and have been bred for long storage life and bulb production. Most softneck varieties have two or more rows of relatively small cloves. Softneck garlic does NOT produce a scape, and true to name, has a flexible stem that can be braided.
Pros of Growing Softneck Garlic:
Excellent storage capabilities.
No scape production to manage.
Flexible stems suitable for making traditional garlic braids.
Suitable for milder climates.
Higher number of cloves per bulb reduces seed cost.
Widely available, growers may be able to plant grocery store bulbs to get started if quality seed isn’t accessible.
Cons of Growing Softneck Garlic:
Smaller cloves mean more time peeling in the kitchen.
Milder, less complex flavors.
Lack of scape production means lost secondary crop.
May not be hardy in colder climates, or only hardy with additional mulching.
Common Varieties of Softneck Garlic:
Inchelium Red
California White
Silverwhite
Early Italian
& More!
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