What is Porcelain Garlic and How to Grow It
Introduction
Porcelain garlic is a large, attractive type of hardneck garlic. It has plump cloves that are easy to peel, delicious to eat, and store longer than most other garlic varieties. Growing porcelain garlic is similar to growing other types of garlic, but there are a few key things to keep in mind.
How to Grow Porcelain Garlic
1. Choose the Right Location and Soil
Porcelain garlic grows best in well-drained soil in a sunny location. The soil should be loose and fertile, with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
2. Plant in the Fall
Porcelain garlic is planted in the fall, between September and November. The cloves should be planted about 6 inches deep and 6 inches apart.
3. Water Regularly
Porcelain garlic needs about 1 inch of water per week, especially during the spring and early summer when the bulbs are forming.
4. Fertilize
Porcelain garlic benefits from being fertilized with a balanced fertilizer in the spring.
5. Mulch
Mulching around the garlic plants helps to keep the soil moist and suppress weeds. Straw or compost makes a good mulch for porcelain garlic.
6. Harvest
Porcelain garlic is ready to harvest when the lower leaves start to turn brown. The bulbs should be dug up carefully and allowed to dry in a warm, dry place.
Varieties of Porcelain Garlic
There are many different varieties of porcelain garlic, each with its own unique flavor and characteristics. Some popular varieties include:
- German Extra Hardy: This variety is disease resistant and has a robust, hot flavor.
- Leningrad: This variety matures later than most porcelain garlic varieties and has large bulbs with four to six cloves.
- Georgia Fire: This variety has pale, brown cloves streaked with purple and is native to the Republic of Georgia.
- Armenian: This variety is flavorful and attractive, with white wrappers marked with a tint of red.
- Romanian Red: This variety has beautiful purple-striped wrappers and four to eight cloves per bulb.
- Georgian Crystal: This variety is one of the mildest porcelain garlic varieties, with a flavor that is robust but mellow.
- Polish Jenn: This variety is harvested in early to midsummer and has a rich, deep, and mellow flavor.
- Majestic: This variety is appreciated for its large bulbs, each with four to seven cloves.
- Floha: This variety is versatile and not overly hot, making it a good choice for baking.
- Dan’s Russian: This variety is moderately hot.
- Iowa German White: This variety is vigorous and produces large bulbs, each with up to seven bulbs.
- Music: This variety displays more color than most porcelain garlic varieties and has a rich and strong flavor.
- Rosewood: This variety has big, beautiful bulbs of soft, pastel colors.
- Zemo: This variety has a strong but pleasant taste.
Tips for Growing Porcelain Garlic
- Plant the fattest, plumpest porcelain garlic cloves you can find.
- Cover the garlic with 3 to 4 inches of mulch after the ground freezes.
- Pull weeds as they appear to prevent them from robbing nutrients from the garlic bulbs.
- If your climate is rainy in spring, you may not need to irrigate your garlic plants.
Storing Porcelain Garlic
Porcelain garlic can be stored for up to six months in a cool, dry place. The bulbs should be kept in a mesh bag or a paper bag with holes to allow for air circulation.
Using Porcelain Garlic
Porcelain garlic has a strong, pungent flavor that is perfect for adding to a variety of dishes. It can be used in soups, stews, sauces, and marinades. Porcelain garlic is also a good choice for roasting or grilling.
