Description
Artichoke Garlic, Red Toch
GARLIC, which is a member of the same group of plants as the ONION, has been cultivated for millennia. As a cultivated plant, it is so old that it is difficult to credit a country of origin for this vegetable. Some historians believe that onions and garlic was indigenous to the southwest of Siberia and spread to southern Europe where it became naturalized. It is widely grown in all the Mediterranean countries.
All modern garlic belongs to one of two subspecies: hardneck (ophioscorodon) or softneck (sativum). Hardneck subspecies try to produce flower stalks with small aerial cloves called bulbils. Hardnecks will not produce large bulbs underground unless the flower stalks are removed. There are seven varieties of hardneck garlic: Asiatics, Purple Striped, Glazed Purple Stripe, Marbled Purple Stripe, Porcelain, Turban and Rocambole. Softnecks have lost the ability, for the most part, to produce a flower stalk. However, under certain climatic situations, the bulbs may try to produce a flower stalk known as bolting. There are four varieties of softneck garlic: Artichoke, Turban, Silverskin and Creole.
Ted Jordan Meredith in his landmark book, The Complete Book of Garlic, A Guide for Gardeners, Growers, and Serious Cooks, in my opinion, the best book ever written on garlic, perhaps offered the most succinctly put and accurately and comprehensively organized summary of the nature and value of the Artichoke Group when he wrote,
“Artichoke cultivars are among the most productive and least problematic. They are ready for harvesting earlier, readily develop very large bulbs, and adapt to a wide range of growing conditions and soils.”
Artichoke garlic is named for its overlapping cloves that resemble an artichoke. Artichoke garlic bulbs can have as many as 3-5 overlapping clove layers. The plants are very vigorous and large bulbed. The flavor is mild, and this is often the garlic chosen for eating raw. Artichoke garlic is an excellent storer. The bulbs contain 12-20 cloves. One pound of seed garlic will produce approximately 80 plants.
Artichoke garlic cultivars are among the most productive and least problematic of all garlic cultivars. They mature earlier than other garlic cultivars and produce huge bulbs. Best of all, they adapt to a wide range of growing environments, so they can be grown throughout most of the US. Only in Hardiness Zones 1-2 and 8-10 will they have a hard time.
