Softneck Garlic
Sometimes referred to as artichoke garlic, softnecks produce a bulb with two or more rings of cloves and a braidable top with no rigid scape. Long shelf life in cold storage. Not quite as cold hardy as hardnecks. Zone 4–9 50–60 cloves per pound.
Hardneck vs. Softneck
Hardneck garlic has a hard stalk in the center of the bulb, and (the vast majority of the time) only one ring of cloves. Plant grows an edible scape, a tall leafless stalk with a flower-like top. Tops are too rigid to braid but can be tied in attractive bundles and hung.
For best bulb size, cut off the scape before it uncurls. One of our favorite midsummer tasks is clipping the scapes and enjoying them grilled, stir-fried, pickled, or in pesto! If you leave the tops on, the below-ground bulb will likely be smaller, but you’ll get a membrane full of little bulbils, which you can plant if so inspired.
Hardnecks are closer to wild garlic, garlic and varieties present a range of characteristics and complex flavor profiles. Very cold hardy.
Softneck garlic (which we’ve offered in the past) produces multiple rings of cloves and a soft braidable top. Softneck types have mostly lost the ability to produce a stalk with flowering parts—but sometimes they bolt and produce extra “cloves” in the stem. Growers like softneck varieties for their extra-long shelf life in cold storage.
Seed Garlic
The bulb size, the skin color, the flavor, and the size and number of cloves are partly determined by genetics, and partly by soil and weather. We base our variety descriptions on reports from farmers, our garlic suppliers and our own experiences; your harvests may differ slightly.
Our size standard for a seed garlic bulb is 2" diameter, but we reserve the right to ship smaller garlic in difficult crop years. Fedco requires every lot of garlic to test negative for both garlic bloat nematode and white rot.
All our garlic is hardy Zones 3-8. See the USDA Hardiness Zone map for more information.
This item is sustainably grown