Garlic Goes With Everything

Does it feel like garlic is in almost every dish? There’s a good reason why. Garlic, a member of the allium family, is packed with health benefits and offers remarkable versatility in the kitchen. Its flavor shifts dramatically with preparation—raw garlic is sharp and spicy, roasted garlic becomes sweet and rich, and sautéed garlic adds savory depth. It’s no wonder garlic is a staple around the world. If you've already picked out your varieties, check out this article to learn how to plant your garlic.

Certified Seed Garlic Only

Not all garlic is safe to plant. Grocery store garlic may look harmless, but it can carry diseases that devastate both home gardens and Idaho farms. The most concerning is white rot, a soil-borne disease with no cure. Once present, it can linger in soil for decades and threatens the livelihood of farmers who depend on allium crops.

For this reason, the Idaho Department of Agriculture enforces strict rules: only certified seed garlic grown in Idaho may be planted here. By choosing locally grown and certified seed garlic, gardeners help protect Idaho agriculture and support local farmers.

Hardneck Vs. Softneck

• Softneck Garlic:

  • Produces more cloves per head

  • Stores longer, making it ideal for winter use

  • Easier to braid for decorative storage

  • Generally milder in flavor

• Hardneck Garlic:

  • Grows a central flowering stalk (scape)

  • Typically fewer cloves, but with bold, robust flavor

  • Easier to peel

  • Shorter storage life than softneck varieties

Softneck

Early Italian Purple – is a great place to start if this is your first year growing garlic. It will produce lots of sweet and spicy cloves that can be used in just about anything you want to cook.

Susanville – will mature earlier than other varieties, making it a perfect addition to your garden for some early harvest. Its mild flavor and body make it very versatile and great for cooking or roasting.

Lorz – is the ideal choice for those of us who enjoy a lot of garlic flavor! It’s easy to peel cloves, add tons of flavor, and this variety goes great with potatoes and pasta.

Inchelium – is another early harvest garlic that won’t disappoint. Inchelium will produce large bulbs that store well and add a rich, rich umami garlic flavor to your dish.

Hardneck

Chesnok – is the only hardneck variety we have this year, but it’s the best. This variety can produce heads weighing up to one pound. This one is full of flavor and is great for cooking, baking, or roasting and having as an appetizer alone.