Garlic soft v hard neck.

[Digeroo]

Thinking about planting garlic for the first time.  What is the difference between the soft and hard neck varieties.  Can you suggest a good variety?  Soil very well drained.  Good amount of manure already added.

[Digeroo]

[muddylou]

Hope you get some replies Digeroo as I want to know the same info, I was told our lottie shop was selling Garlic but it turned out to be Elephant Garlic which I don't want. For what it's worth, I asked a couple of the old boys at our open day today and they both said I should order Solent Wight.

[GodfreyRob]

Here's an explanation:

There are hundreds of named varieties of garlic, but all of them can be categorized into two major types: soft-necked and hard-necked.

The stalk that grows up from a garlic bulb is called a "neck."

The stalk of soft-necked garlic is pliable and soft at maturity. The stalk of hard-necked garlic is stiff at maturity.

Soft-necked garlic is strong flavored and stores well because it has several protective outer layers of papery skin.

Hard-necked garlic is mild tasting and best used soon after harvest since it has only a few layers of papery skin and thus keeps poorly.

from: http://www.harvestwizard.com/2007/03/softneck_and_hardneck_garlic_t.html

[Robert_Brenchley]

Have a look here: http://www.patnsteph.net/weblog/category/garlic/ . It seems there are five different sorts of garlic, but I'm not altogether sure about the differences.

[allaboutliverpool]

I have a few details and photos on -

http://www.allaboutliverpool.com/allaboutallotments_Vegetables_garlic.html

I should add that the year I grew the Tesco hardneck garlic was one of my best years yet and they stored very well despite the literature saying that they do not!

Isn't it strange how Tesco seem to know a thing or two.

[Robert_Brenchley]

What's 'very well'? Most of what I grow will store till January, and I've never been able to store anything but elephant garlic after April.

[Digeroo]

My daughter is the garlic lover and is keen on Spanish and Italian cooking so presume that means soft neck varieties.

Was told end October a good time to sow.  Also heard that 21st December also good sow longest day harvest shortest day.  Would welcome comments on this as well.

Had not realised there were so many varieties, now I am even more confused.

[1066]

Digeroo I heard the same thing about planting garlic on the shortest day and harvesting on the longest day. I did mine in mid November last year and most was very successful for me and much better than the spring planted garlic.

Hope this helps a little
1066

[Robert_Brenchley]

I find October gives me the biggest bulbs, though it's still possible to get away with much later plantings.

[valentinelow]

For what it is worth, the variety that has always worked best for me is Albigensian, which I get from Tuckers.
No doubt it is all down to what sort of soil you have (I am on good, thick, stodgy London clay), but compared with the other varieties I have grown - Early Wight, Solent Wight, Early Purple, Lautrec - the Albigensian produces the biggest, fattest heads. They are a lovely purple colour too.

Historical footnote: Albigensian is apparently "the garlic of the Cathars". It is good to have a persecuted religious sect on your side, I suppose.

[tim]

I may have missed something but, to me , 'soft neck' is the storing one. Like well into the Spring.
We are only Garlickless for 2 months.

[Robert_Brenchley]

Historical footnote: Albigensian is apparently "the garlic of the Cathars". It is good to have a persecuted religious sect on your side, I suppose.

Allegedly. I take the claim with a pinch of salt.