The Garlic Patch, Planted

   The garlic patch is planted to put to bed for the season.  Whew!  This year, it is in the East garden and despite telling myself I would "simply", the patch is the larger than ever and has more varieties than before.  What can one do, when a generous soul gives you 7 new varieties of bulbils and rounds to try?   

   The patch was planted over two days; started October 10th and finished - including mulch - on the 11th.   The buried pots and window boxes on the left-hand side of the patch contain bulbils and small rounds, and the lines of rocks are dividing markers for the different varieties.  I also drew a diagram of the patch and made written notes in case anything happens to/moves the rocks before harvest time (hello, deer...I'm talking to you).

 

   We turned around after mulching the patch to spot one of our kitties nestled in the fluffy mulch, Sphinx-style, eyes closed in cozy bliss.  She looked so sweet and content; I wish I'd caught a photo of that.  Once she became aware we were adoring her, she sat up to take it all in.

 
 

 

 

 

This year's varieties are:

Russian Giant  – Hardneck – Marbled Purple Stripe – Very hot when eaten raw.  Best grown in cool/northern climates.  Large bulbs, often 3 inches across.  4-6 cloves per bulbs.  Long storing (~8 months).  Skin is brownish-purple.

Red Russian – Hardneck - Marbled Purple Stripe (a kind I plant annually).  Excellent storage. Very dependable.  Excellent storage.  Large bulbs, averaging 5-7 cloves per bulb.  Can tolerate wet and very cold winters. Hot flavour with a bit of sweetness.

Siberian – Hardneck - Marbled Purple Stripe -  A mild-to-medium-intensity garlic that has a high concentration of allicin. Does well in both warm and cool climates, though thrives in the latter.  Large bulbs usually contain 5-8 cloves. The cloves have light pink skins that become darker/redder when the garlic is grown in iron-rich soil.  Mid-to-late season. Stores well; 6-7 months.

Central Siberian -  Hardneck - Marbled Purple Stripe - Similar to, if not the same as, "Siberian".

Persian Star – Hardneck – Purple Stripe – Cold-hardy variety and a Canadian heritage variety.  Light coloured bulb wrappers with purple-streaked clove skins. Late harvest.  The bulbs can get quite large.  8-10 cloves per bulbs, can have 6-8 months storage.  Rich and spicy but not too hot.

Pyong Yang Korean – Asiatic Hardneck – Glazed Purple Stripe.  Rare, hot, early to harvest.  Easy to peel, moderate storage (~6 months). This variety should be harvested when 1-2 leaves have turned brown (unlike most varieties).

Brown Tempest – Hardneck - Glazed Purple Stripe - Bulb wrapper have purple patches, cloves are brown/bronze with a bit of rose blush and no stripes.  Bulbs average 6-7 cloves.  Raw garlic is hot.  Originating from the Republic of Moldova. Peels quite easily.  Does not store well (recommended to eat these ones first).

Mother of Pearl – SOFTNECK – Silverskin – long storage, dense heads, no scape develops, rare variety.  Of the Silverskins, this is the earliest variety to mature.

Northern Quebec – Hardneck – Porcelain. White wrappers. Good storage.  Averages 4 cloves per bulb. Does well in most climates and tolerates very cold winters.  Mid-season harvest.  Hot (and some say slightly smoky) flavour.

Baba Franchuk’s – Hardneck - Rocambole - Originated in Manitoba. Bulb wrappers have strong purple striping, cloves wrappers are reddish brown.  Great flavour.  The bulbs can grow very large.  Averages 8-10 cloves per bulb.  Stores about 6 months.  An easy peeler.

Kiev – Hardneck - Rocambole -  Brown, gold, and amber wrappers.  Brown, gold, and amber wrappers. Strong flavour, large bulbs with up to 10 cloves (seems to average around 7).  An easy peeler.

 

New (bulbils & rounds)

Red Rocambole – Hardneck  - Rocambole – This variety was given to me.  I don’t know which variety of red rocambole it is (e.g., Killarney Red, Spanish Roja, etc.)…or if the name of the variety is “Red Rocambole”.  Being a rocambole, it's an easy peeler.

Newfoundland (Heritage Newfoundland?) – Hardneck - Rocambole - A rare cultivar from eastern Canada, which has been cultivated for nearly 400 years in Newfoundland. The cultivar was collected by Peter Sobol.  Does well in cold climates.  Outer wrapper white marbled with mauve. Cloves coloured cinnamon to dark rose and are easy to peel.  Rich flavour without burning.  Stores ~ 4 months.   [I am not sure if this is a rocambole or porcelain.  It looks like a rocambole to me ("Newfoundland Heritage"), but the person who gifted the rounds to me thinks it’s a porcelain variety ("Newfoundland").]

Burnstown Wild – Hardneck - Rocambole?  Purple Stripe? - These rounds were gifted to me, and I can't find any information about this variety.  The rounds are large and a purple/rose colour.

Jesuit House (rare) – undetermined, but seems to be a hardneck, a probable Porcelain.  Here is a short write-up of what's known about this garlic.  There is a bit more information on the Terre Promise seed website.  I have seen this nutshell description online:  "Jesuit House garlic - a rare perennial clumping garlic from Sillery, Quebec - multiplies via seeds and nubbins on the bulb." 

Fish Lake (Fish Lake 3?) – Hardneck - Porcelain - The premier and best known variety from the legendary garlic breeder Ted Maczka. This variety is stronger and larger than most porcelains. Robust grower.  The white bulbs have 5 to 6 cloves and the clove wrappers are purplish pink. Good storage.

Music – Hardneck - Porcelain –  One of the most common varieties grown in Canada.  Produces a medium pungency garlic that stores well.  Music has an average of 4-6 cloves per bulb.  Adapts well to a wide range of environments and growing conditions.  Originally imported from Italy.  Performs well in cold climates.  Outer wrappers tend to be white.  Cloves are hot when eaten raw, sweet when baked.  One of the milder porcelains.

Majestic – Hardneck - Porcelain -  Smooth, pronounced garlic flavour followed by distinctive heat, then mellowing to a pleasant aftertaste.  One of the mildest of the porcelains. Large bulbs can reach 3”  wide.  Much loved for its resistance to disease, to cold weather, and to drought.  Hardy with good yields.  Originally selected in Eastern Canada.  Grows well in cold climates.  Plants are tall (thus the name, “Majestic”.)  Large bulbs with fat cloves (averages 4-7 cloves).  Outer wrappers range from white to slightly purple.  Cloves are tan to pink.  Hot (spicy, intense) when eaten raw, sweet when baked, mild when cooked.  Mid-season harvest.  Good storage (7-8 months).