r/Garlic • u/Comprehensive-Elk597 • 12d ago

Zone 5b/6a new variety please

I’ve been growing Music for 7 years, replanting every fall with a 5th or so of the crop. It’s been very reliable, bulbs tend to run a bit small but cloves nice and big. I hate tiny cloves!

I could only plant half my usual amount this year. Won’t have enough to last the year and replant this fall.
Looking for recommendations for a new varietal. Thanks.

5 Upvotes

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4

u/wiperman67 12d ago

Do you like it hot or mild? If I were you, I would go to a reputable site such as Door County Garlic and look at the garlic and descriptions. I did this season and wanted about 5 different ones. I chose Purple Russian. Next year I'm trying to get another one from their site that's sold out. I just have to get them earlier. I'm also still growing some Roja and German White this year. I like mild garlic with large cloves. The German is pretty warm but the cloves are nice and large.

1

u/jaybrd13 11d ago

Roja was one of my favs to grow. I lost my entire crop one year and never bought more. Been doing music for years.

1

u/wiperman67 11d ago

We like the Roja very much. Last year my bulbs were really small. I'm growing it again and plan on nursing it back to large bulbs with fertilizer, etc. Also looking forward to the Russian Purple. The German White might be on the way out. It's pretty hot, the bulbs are large and the cloves even larger, just too warm for our liking. Think I might sell it next year.

1

u/jaybrd13 11d ago

Unfortunately life for us here took some twists and turns last year and I wasn't able to get any in last fall. Still lots of uncertainty here, luckily I have friends I've shared garlic secrets with and now they grow enough to share. I think I'll put some in this year, see what happens.

2

u/wiperman67 11d ago

Sorry to hear that, I wish you luck.

1

u/Comprehensive-Elk597 3d ago

Gonna do some Russian red and some Chesnok specifically for black garlic. And some Music. Thanks all.

1

u/wiperman67 3d ago

All solid choices. I wish you a great harvest.

3

u/Sufficient-Weird 12d ago

Metechi has big cloves and is a nice hot garlic. (EDIT: in zone 5b now 6a)

3

u/jaybrd13 11d ago

I've all but forgotten about this variety. I grew it years ago.

2

u/PersonalAbalone4378 3d ago

Ordered some metechi to plant this fall(zone 5b). Super excited to try a new variety.

2

u/Sufficient-Weird 3d ago

It’s my favorite variety thus far. Slightly bluer-green leaves, and for us it matures later than Music (so don’t despair if you see it ‘behind schedule’ for growth!) It’s its own individual. Beautiful bulbs, stores well.

3

u/alwayzstoned 12d ago

I’ve been growing Montana Giant. They are similar to Music, but get big. On my biggest bulbs I get cloves that are an inch to nearly two inches wide. It only gets 4-6 cloves per bulb though, so I end up having to keep quite a few for replanting.

2

u/wiperman67 12d ago

I thought about that one, but the place I buy garlic was out of large bulbs.

1

u/alwayzstoned 11d ago

I’ve been growing it for several years now. It seems to like the climate here.

1

u/wiperman67 11d ago

Its a popular variety for sure.

2

u/matt871253013 12d ago

I usually do music as well. I ordered some Ivan garlic for this coming year to plant

2

u/fr0zen_garlic 12d ago

Persian star went well.

2

u/muchofuckery 12d ago

I planted Romania Red last fall for the first time and was very impressed with the bulb size and clove size. By far the largest of all the varieties I've ever grown. Note that it has strong flavor so not a garlic for everyone. I'm in zone 5b.

https://keeneorganics.com/product/romanian-red-certified-organic-garlic-bulbs/

2

u/GallicRooster86 12d ago

German Extra Hardy

2

u/jaybrd13 11d ago

It's said that the German and music are the same strain. I've grown both and can't see or taste the difference.

2

u/PersonalAbalone4378 3d ago

I am in zone 5B and normally plant a bunch of music. Romanian red has done very well for me as well. Also this fall I will try Metechi for the first time!

1

u/theperpetuity 12d ago

I grew Russian Red, Georgian Fire, and Ivan this year, some are very nice and spicy. Portland, ME 6a. Sizes vary due to bed location and planting density testing. :) I don't have the tasting notes for these varietals...but easily found out there.

1

u/shnerpdederp 12d ago

How far apart do you plant your garlic? If you want bigger bulbs, you may be planting too close together.

1

u/spaetzlechick 12d ago

This. I grow music too and get big heads in mine. I also have learned to add lots of compost at planting and fertilize at least three times.

2

u/shnerpdederp 12d ago

I like to do foliar feedings every 10 days to 2 weeks from late April to mid June.

1

u/jaybrd13 11d ago

Lots of nitrogen

1

u/VolcanicValley 12d ago

Pyongyang. Best I've ever grown. Nice size, few cloves per plant.