Indispensable culinary allium grown from cloves. Hardneck types produce edible flower scapes; softneck types store longer and braid easily.
Hardiness ratings
| System | Rating | Temperature range | How to read it |
|---|---|---|---|
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 4–9 | −34.4 °C to −1.1 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| RHS hardiness rating | H7 | down to −20 °C | Plant needs at least this level of cold tolerance |
| Canadian plant hardiness zone | Zone 4–9 | −29 °C and warmer | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
| Australian (ANBG) zone | Zone 1–5 | −15 °C to 10 °C | Plant tolerates down to this zone |
About Garlic
Garlic almost never sets viable seed in cultivation, so it is propagated by planting individual cloves — meaning a garlic crop is a clone, and varieties have been carried by hand from place to place for thousands of years. It divides into hardneck types, which send up a flowering stalk called a scape, and softneck types, which do not and which are the ones that can be plaited. The characteristic smell does not exist in the intact clove: it is created when cells are damaged and an enzyme converts a precursor compound into allicin.
Growing notes
- Plant in autumn (cold climates) or late autumn/winter (warm climates) — needs cold dormancy to differentiate cloves
- Hardneck cultivars are more cold-hardy; softneck cultivars suit milder climates and longer storage
- Always consult a qualified medical or herbal practitioner before medicinal use.
Pet caution: Garlic is listed as potentially harmful to cats and/or dogs. Keep pets from grazing on it, and contact a vet if you suspect your animal has eaten some.
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Related plants
Cross-check Garlic against your zones