Similarities And Differences Between Hardneck Garlic & Softneck Garlic
Garlic is a wonderful plant and has been used in human history for a very long time
, There are many varieties and can grow almost anywhere with the proper care. To simplify I am going to divide garlic into two main groups Hardneck garlic and softneck garlic in this article you will receive a summary of the similarities and differences. Hardneck garlic is closer related to wild garlic in many regards from appearance to flavor. The Term Hardneck comes from the woodiness of the stalk it is quite hard and gives a resemblance of wood. The stalk is the flowering scape, which can reach 1-7ft tall depending upon the variety. The scapes come in late spring and are very succulent and delicious to eat when they are young and tender, it is also very beautiful and curls and twist to make beautiful loops. As the plant matures the scape straightens out and reaches high into the sky and begins to harden off. This flowering stalk goes through the middle of the bulb. The cloves on hardneck garlic varieties are generally much fewer in number but are much more uniform and larger than softnecks. They are also increasing in popularity and rightfully so their flavor is much richer and the cloves are generally easier to peel. We are beginning to see hardneck garlic in gourmet restaurants and your local farmers markets. Hardneck garlic is not currently mass produced and does best in cold climates.
The ever popular softnecks are what most people are familiar with in local super markets. They are mass produced and often come from a faraway land. Take a look next time you will probably see product of China The garlic has lost its ability to send a flowering stock so it only sends up the leaves. In fact near harvest time the plant usually lays right over because it has no support. But the bulbs are still beautiful and powerful in their own regard. There are many cloves per bulb as they spiral around creating many small cloves in place of where there should be a stem. Softnecks still have some great advantages one the scapes dont need to be removed in the late spring they can become very big and productive they also store longer than any other type of garlic. This is generally hardneck garlics largest downfall Softnecks can store for 12 months so you can have great garlic all year. While the majority of hardnecks can only store a couple months, this doesnt mean all hardnecks however I have seen porcelain varieties store 12 months. They are both beautiful and should be eaten often. Whatever you decide to grow you will enjoy home grown garlic.