What is the Difference Between Softneck and Hardneck Garlic? – Grow Organic

Growing garlic in your own garden lets you play with flavors you cannot find in stores. We carry more organic seed garlic than any other garden company, at the best prices, so plunge in and get garlicky.

Introduction to Hardneck vs Softneck Garlic

Overview of Garlic Varieties

The difference between hardneck and softneck garlic lies in their structure, flavor, and growing requirements. Hardneck garlic varieties, known for their robust flavor and central stalk, thrive in cold climates and produce garlic scapes, unlike softneck garlic.

Softneck garlic, which includes many of the grocery store garlic varieties, typically has a milder flavor and a longer shelf life, making it ideal for warmer climates. Garlic growers must consider these subtle differences, such as hardneck garlic’s fewer but larger cloves and softneck garlic’s many tightly wrapped cloves, when choosing the right type for their garlic bed.

Importance of Understanding the Differences

Understanding the differences between hardneck and softneck garlic is crucial for garlic growers aiming to grow garlic successfully in various climates. Hardneck garlic, with its robust flavor and garlic scapes, thrives in cold climates, while softneck garlic, known for its mild garlic flavor and longer shelf life, is better suited for warmer climates.

Recognizing these differences helps in selecting the right garlic varieties for specific conditions, ensuring a bountiful harvest of garlic bulbs with tightly wrapped cloves or large cloves. This knowledge also aids in organic gardening and optimizing garlic stores with the appropriate garlic groupings.

How to Grow Garlic

Learn the nuts and bolts of growing and harvesting garlic in our video How to Grow Garlic and our downloadable Garlic Growing Guide.

The question is, which varieties of garlic seed do you want to plant? Softneck or hardneck or both?

Garlic has a Neck?

By the time you see garlic in the store it has been trimmed, but there is still a papery tuft that stands above the bulb. That’s the covering of the “neck” of the garlic. Garlic also comes with different colored skins around the cloves. The cloves themselves are always a creamy white.

Classification of Garlic

General Classification of Garlic

Garlic can be broadly classified into two main groups: hardneck and softneck garlic. Hardneck garlic, known for its robust flavor and cold hardiness, thrives in cold climates and is often favored for its complex flavors and larger cloves, while softneck garlic, which includes varieties like grocery store garlic, tends to have a milder flavor and a longer shelf life, making it suitable for warmer climates.

Unlike softneck garlic, hardneck varieties produce garlic scapes—flowering stocks that emerge from the central stalk. Within these groups, hardneck garlic varieties are distinguished by their fewer, tightly wrapped cloves and more intense flavor, whereas softneck varieties have many smaller, softer neck cloves and are commonly used in garlic braids.

Softneck Garlic

This is the type of garlic you’ll find in most grocery stores. The bulb has a mild flavor. A great virtue of the softneck garlic (Allium sativum ssp. sativum) is that it stores very well.

Since the necks are (literally) soft, you can cut them nice and long for braiding. A braid of garlic makes a winning kitchen gift for friends and family!

Which to choose? California Early White has no hot bite in its flavor, grows rapidly and is ready to harvest early. If making garlic braids is your top priority, plant California Late White. You’ll get a stronger flavor with this garlic, and it does better in warm climates than the Early variety.

Hardneck Garlic

Hardneck garlic (Allium sativum ssp. ophioscorodon) are closer to wild garlic, with complex flavors. They thrive in cold climates. These are the garlics that some compare to wines with subtle differences that reflect the regional soil and weather patterns.

One simple benefit to the cook is the way some of their skins slip off smoothly. Hardnecks do not store as long as softnecks; cure them, eat them within 6-10 months, and get to know their distinctive flavors.

Spanish Roja’s flavor in particular is rich and classic. It does have a shorter shelf life, of 3-4 months, so go ahead and enjoy this best seller early.

What about Elephant Garlic?

This big guy is technically in the leek family, but you’d never know by the look or the taste. Kids love harvesting this giant of the garlic patch, and elephant garlic keeps well too, with a mild flavor.

Botanical Differences: Hardneck vs Softneck Garlic

Bulb Structure

The botanical structure of garlic bulbs reveals key differences between hardneck and softneck garlic. Hardneck garlic, which thrives in cold climates, typically has fewer, larger cloves arranged around a central stalk, and features a flowering stock known as a garlic scape. These garlic scapes are a distinctive characteristic of hardneck varieties and contribute to their robust flavor.

In contrast, softneck garlic, often found in grocery stores, has many smaller, softer cloves layered around a more flexible, softer neck, resulting in a mild garlic flavor and longer shelf life. Unlike hardneck garlic, softneck garlic varieties do not produce scapes and are better suited for warmer climates.

Clove Arrangement

The clove arrangement in garlic bulbs varies significantly between hardneck and softneck garlic. Hardneck garlic typically features fewer cloves, which are larger and arranged in a more organized manner around a central stalk, often with a flowering stock called a garlic scape. This structure contributes to the more robust flavor and cold hardiness of hardneck varieties.

In contrast, softneck garlic, commonly found in grocery stores, has many smaller cloves densely packed around a soft neck, leading to a milder garlic flavor and longer shelf life. The difference between hardneck and softneck garlic in clove arrangement reflects their adaptation to different climates and growing conditions.

Scape Development

One notable botanical difference between hardneck and softneck garlic is the development of scapes. Hardneck garlic produces a flowering stock called a garlic scape, which emerges from the center of the bulb and features a distinctive scape structure. This flowering stock can be used in cooking for its pungent flavor and indicates the plant’s reproductive process, often seen in varieties like purple stripe and other hardneck groupings.

In contrast, softneck garlic, commonly used in grocery stores, lacks these scapes and does not produce a flowering stock. This absence contributes to the softneck’s ability to store longer and its adaptation to warmer climates, as it helps keep the papery covering intact and prevents the bulb from drying out, unlike wild garlics which often have different scape characteristics.

Growing Conditions

Optimal Growing Environments

When considering growing conditions for garlic, understanding the differences between hardneck vs softneck garlic is crucial. Hardneck garlic, such as purple stripe and other hardneck varieties, thrives in cold climates and is cold hardy, making it ideal for regions with cold winters.

These garlics develop scapes and have a more robust flavor but generally have fewer cloves per bulb. In contrast, softneck garlic, which is commonly found in grocery stores, prefers milder climates and can grow successfully in mild winters, providing a longer shelf life and yielding many cloves with a milder flavor.

Climate Suitability

When it comes to climate suitability, the difference between hardneck vs softneck garlic is significant. Hard neck garlic, such as the robust purple stripe varieties, is cold hardy and thrives in areas with cold winters and cold exposure.

These garlics develop scapes and are ideal for planting garlic in regions with harsh winter conditions. On the other hand, soft neck garlic prefers milder climates and mild winters, making it well-suited for areas with less extreme weather, where it can produce many cloves with a longer shelf life.

Soil Requirements

When comparing hardneck vs softneck garlic, the soil requirements vary to match their growing conditions. Hardneck garlic, including varieties like purple stripe, prefers well-drained soil enriched with organic matter, as it is often grown in cold climates with cold exposure.

In contrast, soft neck garlic thrives in milder climates and requires soil that retains moisture while still allowing for good drainage, promoting the growth of softneck cloves with a longer shelf life. Both types benefit from soil that is free of excess waterlogging, which can lead to issues with bulb development and overall plant health.

Cultivation Practices

Planting Techniques

When planting garlic, the techniques differ between hardneck vs softneck garlic due to their varying needs. For hardneck garlic, including varieties like purple stripe, planting in well-drained soil with good cold exposure is essential, as it thrives in cold winters and forms garlic scapes.

In contrast, soft neck garlic, which prefers milder winters and often has a longer shelf life, should be planted in soil that retains moisture but also drains well, to support the growth of softneck cloves with fewer cloves per bulb. Proper planting techniques for both types involve ensuring the papery covering of individual cloves remains intact and spacing them appropriately to encourage robust bulb development.

Maintenance and Care

Caring for garlic involves specific practices tailored to hardneck vs softneck garlic. Hardneck garlic, such as purple stripe varieties, benefits from regular cold exposure and careful monitoring of garlic scapes, which should be removed to promote robust bulb growth and more intense flavors.

In contrast, soft neck garlic, which tends to have a milder flavor and longer shelf life, requires consistent moisture and protection from extreme cold to ensure healthy softneck cloves. Regular weeding and mulching are essential for both types to maintain soil health and prevent competition for nutrients, ensuring a successful garlic harvest.

Harvesting Methods

Harvesting softneck garlic involves gently lifting the bulbs when the lower leaves begin to brown, ensuring the papery covering remains intact for optimal shelf life. In contrast, harvesting hardneck garlic, such as the robust purple stripe varieties, requires careful handling to preserve the delicate scapes and prevent damage to the fewer, larger cloves.

Both types should be cured in a shaded, well-ventilated area to enhance their flavor and storage longevity. While soft neck garlic is better suited for milder climates and longer storage, hardneck garlic thrives in cold winters and offers a more pungent flavor.

Still can’t Decide?

That’s why we created our Garlic Combo Pack, to let you try a little of this and a little of that, at a bargain price! It’s a gastronomical delight featuring organic California Early White softneck seed garlic, Inchelium red, organic Russian Red and organic Purple Italian hardneck seed garlics, a conventional Elephant seed garlic, and even some organic French Red Shallots for delicate flavors. So many flavor profiles!

Storing Garlic

Garlic keeps best at 60-65°F with moderate humidity. Store it in a dry location, a paper bag or mesh tubing works great. If you need help keeping tabs on the temperature and humidity in your storage area, try our Digital Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer.

Conclusion

Choosing between hardneck and softneck garlic depends on your growing conditions and flavor preferences. Hardneck garlic, with its robust flavor and unique garlic scapes, excels in cold climates, offering fewer but larger cloves. Conversely, softneck garlic, often found in grocery stores, thrives in milder climates and provides a longer shelf life with many smaller cloves.

Understanding these differences helps you select the right garlic varieties for your garden, ensuring a successful harvest and a diverse range of flavors for your culinary adventures. For those looking to explore both types, our Garlic Combo Pack offers a perfect opportunity to experience the best of both worlds. You can find our garlic seeds for sale here.

FAQs: What’s the Difference Between Softneck & Hardneck Garlic?

1. What are the two garlic groupings?

2. How do hardneck and softneck garlic differ in flavor?

   • Hardneck garlic typically has a more robust flavor, while softneck garlic tends to have a milder, less pungent flavor.

3. What is the structure difference between hardneck and softneck garlic?

4. Which garlic type is better for cold climates?

5. What is the shelf life difference between hardneck and softneck garlic?

6. Why do hardneck garlic varieties have fewer cloves?

   • Hardneck varieties typically have fewer, but larger inner cloves, due to their dense heads and scape structure.

7. What are the planting considerations for hardneck garlic?

8. Is elephant garlic a true garlic?

9. What is the significance of understanding these differences for garlic growers?

   • Understanding the difference between hardneck and softneck garlic helps growers choose the right varieties for their climate and desired garlic characteristics, ensuring successful planting and harvesting.

10. Can you find both types of garlic in grocery stores?

More on Garlic

Welcome to the world of seed garlic!  Plant some garlic this year, keep track of what you like, and experiment with new varieties in the years ahead.

Once you start growing garlic at home you’ll be spoiled by having your own cured garlic to cook with, in such a range of flavors.

Our favorite Garlic Book – It’s hard to keep Growing Great Garlic on the shelves here. Ron Engeland’s popular book is the ultimate guide for the organic garlic grower; in addition to practical advice, you’ll learn more about garlic in the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Our Resource Center – For more information on garlic visit our Resource Center to watch our videos, read more articles and tips, try our delicious recipes.