Korean Red Garlic
Korean Red garlic is a hardneck variety that offers a delightful combination of robust flavor and visual appeal. Its cloves are adorned with beautiful purple stripes, making it a standout in any garden or dish. This garlic is a favorite among both growers and chefs, prized for its versatility in the kitchen and reliable performance in the garden. It delivers a pungent and spicy flavor that mellows with cooking, leaving a lingering warmth and subtle sweetness.
Whether you're adding it to stir-fries, sauces, or roasted dishes, Korean Red garlic is sure to enhance your culinary creations. This hardy variety thrives in northern climates and produces large bulbs with easy-to-peel cloves. It also stores well, allowing you to enjoy its vibrant flavor for months after harvest.
*Garlic is sold by the clove rather than by the head, enabling us to thoroughly inspect each clove to ensure its quality and to guarantee that there are no signs of mold or undesirable cloves.
Botanical Name:
Allium sativum
Neck Type:
Hard
Planting Depth:
2"- 4"
Spacing:
6"-12" apart
Germination Temperature:
Garlic shoots exhibit resilience, withstanding air temperatures as low as 20 degrees Fahrenheit without harm. However, it's important to note that when temperatures drop below 10 degrees Fahrenheit, there is a risk of shoot dieback and suboptimal bulb development. Therefore, it's advisable to maintain a protective layer of mulch until temperatures consistently rise to more favorable levels.
Utilization:
To best utilize Korean Red garlic, embrace its versatility. Its pungent raw flavor adds a fiery kick to salsas, sauces, and marinades. Try thinly slicing it for salads or using it to create a flavorful pesto. Roasting mellows the heat, bringing out a subtle sweetness that complements roasted vegetables, meats, and soups. Don't discard the scapes! These curly green shoots have a milder garlic flavor and can be sautéed, grilled, or used in pesto. For long-lasting flavor, ferment Korean Red garlic to create a pungent and probiotic-rich condiment. No matter how you choose to use it, Korean Red garlic is sure to add a depth of flavor to your culinary creations.
Container Friendly:
Yes
Frost Tolerant:
Yes
Maturity Days:
290
Growing Instructions:
How To Grow Garlic:
Step 1: Choose the Right Garlic
Variety: There are two main types: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck garlic produces scapes (curly flower stalks) and has larger cloves, while softneck garlic stores longer and is often found in grocery stores. Choose varieties that grow well in your climate.
Cloves: Select large, healthy cloves from a fresh garlic bulb. Avoid any with blemishes or soft spots.
Step 2: Timing is Everything
Fall Planting (Ideal): Plant garlic cloves in the fall, about 6-8 weeks before the first hard frost. This allows them to develop strong roots before winter.
Spring Planting: If you miss the fall window, you can plant in early spring, but fall planting generally yields bigger bulbs.
Step 3: Prepare the Soil
Location: Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil. Garlic doesn't like to sit in water.
Soil Quality: Amend the soil with compost or well-rotted manure to improve drainage and fertility. Garlic prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH (6.0-7.0).
Step 4: Plant the Cloves
Separate: Gently separate the cloves from the bulb.
Planting Depth: Plant cloves 2-4 inches deep, pointy end up.
Spacing: Space cloves apart per their respective varieties, this will be in the instructions.
Step 5: Mulch and Water
Mulch: After planting, apply a 4-6 inch layer of mulch (straw, leaves, or shredded bark) to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect the cloves from freezing temperatures.
Water: Water the garlic regularly, especially during dry periods. Avoid overwatering, which can lead to rot.
Step 6: Ongoing Care
Weed Control: Keep the garlic bed weed-free to reduce competition for nutrients and water.
Fertilize: Side-dress with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer in spring if needed.
Scapes: If you're growing hardneck garlic, remove the scapes (flower stalks) in early summer. This redirects energy to bulb development.
Step 7: Harvesting
Timing: Garlic is usually ready to harvest in mid to late summer, when the lower leaves begin to brown.
Digging: Carefully loosen the soil around the bulbs with a garden fork and lift them out.
Curing: Bundle the garlic plants or spread them out in a well-ventilated, shady area to cure for 2-3 weeks. This allows the bulbs to dry and the flavor to develop.
Step 8: Storage
Clean: Once cured, brush off any excess dirt and trim the roots and tops.
Store: Store garlic in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated place. Braiding softneck garlic is a traditional storage method.
Extra Tips:
Crop Rotation: Avoid planting garlic in the same spot year after year to prevent disease buildup.
Save the Best: Save some of your largest, healthiest bulbs to plant for next year's crop.
Enjoy: Use your homegrown garlic in all your favorite recipes!
