What is Polish Red Garlic?
There are two major types of garlic: softneck and hardneck. Softneck garlic matures earlier and produces more cloves than hardneck types of garlic. Artichoke garlic is a subtype of softneck garlic that is named for the overlapping layers of cloves. Polish Red garlic bulbs are an artichoke type of garlic. Polish Red garlic plants are very hardy and prolific producers. They sport good sized bulbs containing 6-10 fat cloves that are tan in color with a purple/red tint. The outer skin has a tint of purple/red and is easy to peel from the cloves. Polish Red garlic is an early harvesting garlic with a rich, mild garlic flavor and a long storage life. The parchment wrapped bulbs also make great braiding garlic.
How to Grow Polish Red Garlic
Softneck garlic is harvested early in the summer and grows best in climates with mild winters and hot summers, although it can be grown as low as zone 5. Polish Red gold garlic should be planted in the fall, at the same time spring flowering bulbs would be planted. It may also be planted early in the spring, but harvest will be later than fall planted garlic. Before planting the garlic, the bulb needs to be separated into cloves. Do this about 24 hours or less prior to planting; you don’t want the root nodules to dry out. Peel the outer layers of skin off and gently pull the cloves apart. Garlic is easy to grow but prefers full sun and loose, loamy soil. Just like tulips and other spring bloomers, Polish Red garlic should be planted pointy end up. Place the cloves 3-4 inches (7.6 to 10 cm.) deep and about 6 inches (15 cm.) apart. That’s it. Now the anxious wait begins for this pungent stinking rose.
