# Best Garlic Varieties For Southern Gardens - Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/best-garlic-varieties-for-southern-gardens/ - Published: 2026-09-27T18:22:30-05:00 - Author: Bert Swope Garlic is one of the easiest crops to cultivate. It tolerates soggy soil better than most vegetables and deer and rabbits generally don’t bother it much.Some southern growers who have enjoyed success growing garlic have utilized Thermadrone, which requires minimal vernalization and stores well; Lorz Italian produces bold-flavored cloves; Chesnok Red is a marbled purple stripe hardneck heirloom variety which thrives in warmer environments. ## Thermadrone Garlic thrives best when planted in well-draining soil that allows its roots to dry out after being wet, as its roots will rot otherwise. Sandier loam or silty loam containing high organic matter content would be an ideal setting. Heavy clay soil such as gumbo is less accommodating; similarly soggy winter conditions make the crop less productive than intended. Garlic is susceptible to nematodes which may make their presence felt in moister environments more likely. If your soils are deficient, consider amending with compost or other rich materials such as vermiculite. Garlic prefers full sun but prefers morning light for optimal growth; so plant it where it receives full sunlight until midday when shade should be provided for. If your garden site becomes overheated by midday to afternoon sun, try adding shade or using fans to keep soil temperature down while still encouraging plants to flourish. Hardneck garlic varieties may prove challenging in warmer climates, yet many Southern growers find them highly rewarding! Hardneck varieties tend to mature quicker than their colder-climate counterparts and typically produce fewer cloves per head; their delicious scapes add unique flavor when sauteed or used as part of a pesto recipe. There are various hardneck garlic varieties known to flourish well in warm regions, including Music, California Early, Persian Star and Creole Red. Of these varieties, Music and California Early are good choices for early harvesting and storage in warm winter areas. Persian Star, an ancient Uzbek cultivar known for its silverskin qualities, is another long-storage variety suitable for all seasons. Harvested late summer and stored in cool locations away from direct sunlight, its viability may last several months or over one year before needing replacing. Thermadrone soft-necked garlic is a French favorite that thrives well in warm regions as well. Known for its mild flavor that some compare to Dijon mustard, its large bulbs and abundance of easy-peeling cloves make Thermadrone an easy choice that has performed exceptionally well all winter and even into April! ## Lorz Italian Garlic is an easy and adaptable vegetable to grow. Most gardeners begin with one type, but experimenting with various varieties to find your favorites can be fun and educational. You may be able to find these at farmer’s markets or grocery stores in your area, but for optimal performance it would be smart to purchase from growers who specialize in growing garlic for Southern climates, as these growers will have better selection and are aware of which varieties perform best in that specific climate zone. Soft-neck varieties of garlic are ideal for warmer winter environments and can produce quickly. While these varieties don’t form scapes, they still contain multiple small cloves per bulb and may mature quicker than hardneck varieties for greater shelf life. Lorz Italian and Thermadrone varieties have proven their worth among Southern gardeners, while Nootka Rose’s soft neck varieties tend to do particularly well in storage environments. Nootka Rose also boasts mild, smooth flavors which may become bolder with time in storage. Soft-neck varieties of garlic can be planted anytime between September and October if possible, unlike hardneck varieties which must be done during their growing seasons. As these soft varieties sprout quickly and mature quickly, growers can harvest it before the heat of summer takes its toll on its plants. It is therefore ideal to plant these soft varieties at this time. Soft-neck varieties also provide another advantage; they’re easier to peel than hardneck varieties due to having less layers of skin to separate into individual cloves from each head. Soft-necked varieties offer Southerners several distinct advantages when it comes to flavor. Their taste varies based on its environment; cold temperatures produce pungent aromas while heat and humidity produce sweeter ones – something soft-necked varieties are known for. Therefore, choosing one with variable characteristics would be wise when growing garlic in Southern conditions. ## Chesnok Red Garlic is an easy crop to grow in a home garden, preferring full sunlight and well- draining soil with neutral to slightly acidic pH levels. Plant cloves in [fall](https://lifeandwork.blog/fall-garlic-how-to-plant-fall-garlic/) for harvest in early summer or later. A soil test should also be conducted prior to sowing in order to establish its optimal conditions in your region. Chesnok Red has proven very popular among our Southern growers. This variety is famed for producing large bulbs with easy peeling cloves that boast rich, full flavor. When cooked it leaves behind an exquisite aroma. When stored properly for winter storage purposes it can last four to six months! Originating in Georgia. Russian Red garlic is an ideal option for those searching for milder-tasting varieties of garlic. Its bulbs are smaller than Chesnok Red and feature an eye-catching purple wrapper with a unique appearance, giving the bulbs a distinctive look. Perfect for roasting, it has a sweet yet traditional garlic taste when cooked, yet remains light and smooth when raw; its aroma reminds one of earthy sweetness when raw or raw eating is encouraged! Our Russian Red hardneck variety averages 4-6 cloves per bulb! Montana Giant garlic from Squared Roots Farm is an all-time favorite! A hardneck variety, it produces large bulbs with 5-7 easy-peel cloves for peeling. Very vigorous in production year after year, Montana Giant boasts full flavor with robust heat that cooks up perfectly without burning and offers a pleasant aftertaste when eaten raw! If you’re new to garlic, be sure to source your bulbs from a reliable seller. Organically certified varieties will guarantee healthy produce. Check shipping dates so your bulbs arrive when needed for planting; optimal timing would be [fall](https://lifeandwork.blog/fall-garlic-how-to-plant-fall-garlic/) planting so the temperatures have time to settle before temperatures begin dropping again. We recommend starting plants off by growing cereal oats as cover crop; this helps eliminate early spring weeds while adding vital nutrients back into the soil. ## German Extra Hardy German Extra Hardy Garlic thrives in cold climates and is easy to grow. Part of the Porcelain group of garlics, German Extra Hardy comes with large bulbs with 4- 7 large cloves that are easy to peel. With robust flavors that mellow when cooked or roasted, German Extra Hardy has long-term storage capabilities with generous scapes – it is especially favored among northern gardeners as it withstands extremely harsh winters better than many varieties. Plant German Extra Hardy about four to six weeks before the ground freezes in [fall](https://lifeandwork.blog/fall-garlic-how-to-plant-fall-garlic/). Dig furrows with two to four inch deep holes eight inches apart. Amend the soil with aged compost or well-rotted manure until you achieve an organic matter depth of six to 10 inches. Mix in some slow-release organic fertilizers as granular forms; ensure the bed receives ample sunlight and is free from weeds before planting. Plant the bulbs with their pointed ends downward and about 3-4 inches below the soil surface, covering them with mulch or organic matter for added insulation during wintertime and protection. This will prevent them from drying out and rotting. Hardneck garlic varieties are widely grown throughout the South, as their stronger and more robust flavors make them better suited for cooking applications and winter storage conditions. Hardneck varieties can withstand very cold climates making them suitable for many areas across the nation. Hardneck varieties boast longer storage lives than their softnecked counterparts, often keeping freshness for up to seven months after purchase. As such, hardnecks are popular choices among people looking to make their own garlic paste and preserve it themselves. Music, Marbled Purple Stripe and Purple Stripe hardneck varieties are among Southern growers’ most sought-after hardneck varieties. Each has their own distinct flavor and growing characteristics; all three are recognized for maintaining freshness after harvest and withstanding cold climates. 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