Garlic ( Allium sativum ) is a perennial flowering plant from theAlliumfamily . Its close relatives let in onion plant , shallots , chives , and scallion .
Garlic plant grow from bulbs in tall anthesis stem and can acquire up to 3 ft eminent . In the northern hemisphere they flower in the warm months ; July through September .
Typically the bulbs contain between 10 to 20 Eugenia aromaticum , but this can change depending on the variety . The cloves have astrong aromaand are plow in thin sheathing leaves .
When plant at the right meter and depth , garlic is very hardy and will grow as far north as Alaska ! This , plus the legion health benefits , are some of the cause why it ’s a must - have in any home garden .
Where Does Garlic Come From?
Fresh Allium sativum has been a coarse seasoning across the world for millennia . It was used as a condiment andtraditional music , across Europe and Asia .
Scientists believe the garlic came from the regions betweencentral Asia and Iran . However , the evidence is inconclusive . Most groundless garlic varieties from these region are sterile . And there ’s not much enquiry on ail .
“ Misuse of garlic is a criminal offense … Please do by your Allium sativum with respect”Anthony Bourdain , American chef , author , and travelling documentarian .
How Many Types of Garlic Are There?
If you source your garlic solely from the food market store , then you probably have only ever triedone type of garlic .
But there are countless varieties of garlic from all over the world . Each with distinct characteristics and flavor profiles .
With so manydifferent typesto choose from , it can be hard to blame the perfect kind to grow in your garden .
In this clause , we take a look at dissimilar types of garlic and help you mold the best option for your garden .
How Do You Identify a Garlic?
True Allium sativum has two major race :
These further expose down into two subtypes under Softneck garlic and eight under Hardneck ail :
Softneck Garlic Varieties
Softneck diversity ( Allium sativum sativum ) are the most wide useable . They are typically the kind you will bump in most food market memory board .
Softneck garlic is a popular alternative for commercial-grade use because of how easy it is togrow and conserve . It ’s not delicate and will survive automated planning .
Additionally , it does not necessitate mid - season scape pruning .
Softneck garlic has a mild smack and rise best in warmUSDA zones5 and eminent .
It also has a quite a little of minuscule plantable cloves per bulb nonpareil for regrowth and multiplication .
The two Softneck Allium sativum subtypes are :
Artichoke Garlic
Softneck artichoke garlic has few , but bigger cloves . It also has a mellower flavor liken to silverskin garlic .
Sometimes , due to the bigger clove , it can retain wet , which extend to mold during computer storage . But when decently dried , it cankeep for up to eight month .
Silverskin Garlic
This is a little smaller , and far more flavorful than artichoke garlic . It ’s easier and faster to dry and will keep good , commonly up to a yr in the correct condition .
Hardneck Garlic Varieties
Hardneck garlic multifariousness ( Allium sativum ophioscorodon ) typically have stronger flavor and larger clove .
Additionally , they acquire a woody central stalking , and a green shoot called ascapein the spring .
Garlic scapes bear on to the flowering stalks that sprout from the incandescent lamp . scape develop to organize a bulbil with tiny cloves very to the parent bulb .
Although scapes are adelicacy in many cuisines , husbandman usually chop up them off . They do this to encourage the works to focalize all their energy on grow medulla oblongata .
Hardneck garlic potpourri also do good than softnecks in cold weather .
formally , there are five types of garlic under hardneck , and three underweakly bolt hardnecks . These are :
Rocambole Garlic
Rocambole has the good flavour . It serves as the gold standard for home nurseryman looking for a rich , full - bodied penchant .
However , Rocambole garlic is very fussy about overwatering . It wo n’t perform well in fuddled area and postulate hotter weather than other diverseness .
Rocambole garlic grow between 8 to 12 cloves in a single stratum around the stalk and is soft to peel .
Its outer skin can rove from striped to red and pinkish .
When wry , Rocambole garlic can keep for six month or more .
Porcelain Garlic
Porcelain Allium sativum is closely link to Rocambole in tang . It bring on with child cloves , usually four to six , and is covered in a smooth lily-white wrap .
Although the outer skin is blank , individual cloves are normally covered in red / brown skin .
Porcelain garlic is popular with home gardeners because it ’s highly adaptive to differentgrowing experimental condition . It also keeps very well , usually for up to eight months in the right conditions .
Purple Stripe Garlic
There are three kinds of ail under this subtype , all with distinctive empurpled streaks .
Previously , all three variety were separate under the same subtype – Purple Stripe Garlic . But now they each form their own distinct subtype .
They bring forth between 8 to 12 garlic clove per bulb and are famed for making the best bake - ail .
Marbled Stripe Garlic
This is a variety of garlic similar to the Purple Stripe ail . Except that it has few , expectant cloves .
In wet areas , it tends to go for H2O within the bulb , thus needs extra aid when curing .
A democratic cultivar from this subtype is the Gourmet Red Allium sativum .
Glazed Purple Garlic
This is another tenor formerly classified under the Purple Stripe ail .
It ’s more delicate than the other striped variety due to its thinner outer skin .
glass over Purple Stripe is also very tender , making it less idealistic for commercial growth . It ’s mostly keep live through heritage conservancy and family growers .
Intermediate Garlic Varieties
Besides these five hardneck garlic cultivars , we also have threeweakly run off hardnecks . These are varieties that can produce a shaft in harsh weather condition such as drouth or inordinate heat . But otherwise grow like a softneck .
They are the in-between ground between the hardneck and softneck varieties . Thus the term “ intermediate . ”
The three different types of intermediate garlic are :
Asiatic Garlic
This is among the quickest - growing garlic case available . It gets big and matures very tight . This cook it a popular selection with gardeners who want to have sassy garlic as soon as potential . And multiple time within the year .
However , they do n’t keep for foresighted . Asiatic garlic normally starts to sprout after about four to five calendar month after harvesting .
When consume raw , it has a strong flavor visibility with a bit of heating system .
Turban Garlic
Just like Asiatic Allium sativum , Turban ail grows very tight . But with tumid cloves , unremarkably five to eight per medulla .
Turban Allium sativum is also short keeping . When fledged , its skin peels off , especially if left in the ground too long . And this shortens its keeping fourth dimension even further .
Creole Garlic
In appearance , Creole garlic is among the best looking for . It has a dramatic rose - coloured skin with a pocket-size light bulb .
It ’s also highly adaptable and can digest coarse growing conditions like drought .
Although small , the creole red is in all probability the adept choice for grow in the US . It keeps very well , and its unequalled appearing urinate it a favorite in sodbuster ’ mart and stores .
What about Elephant Garlic?
at long last , no clause about garlic is consummate without touching on Elephant garlic
Elephant garlic ( Allium ampeloprasum ) , also screw as Buffalo Allium sativum , is the much larger cousin from theleek family unit . In fact , it ’s more closely related to onions than in it is to garlic .
It grows in immense bulbs ( sometimes weighing up to one Irish punt each ) with four to six cloves .
Elephant garlic is democratic for its sizing and mild flavor , similar to that of softneck garlic . It ’s ideal for individuals who may not always enjoy or tolerate garlic .
The healthy cloves are well-to-do to peel , make them a welcome option for many cooks . Additionally , the mild oniony nip micturate them great for roasting , making sauces , bring up - Fry , or vinaigrettes .
alas , their size of it also makes it difficult for them to grow in stale areas .
Which Type of Garlic is Best?
Two key factors decide the best sort to grow in your home garden :
Softneck motley do well in warmer climates with nohard freezesover wintertime . Hardnecks are hardier and can tolerate cold conditions .
If you want a longer supply of refreshful garlic , even after harvesting , Porcelain is your best pick . They are the most honest and long storing hardneck variety .
But if you are keener on taste perception , you’re able to not go unseasonable with Rocambole . This is said to have the best flavor of any garlic . But call back it requires warm , dry weather condition to prosper .
That say , within every garlic subtype , there are dozens of varieties . Some of which have never been classified by commercial raiser . And among these , you might notice varietiesbetter suit to you and your area .
Be trusted to regrow unequaled strains and the best producers in your area . Eventually , you will end up with a mental strain that perfectly suit your preference and grow conditions .
Photo fromFlickrbyKjokkenutstyr Net
