How to Grow ‘Polish Hardneck’ Garlic

How to Grow ‘Polish Hardneck’ Garlic Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Polish Hardneck’

‘Polish Hardneck’ – which doesn’t hail from Poland, but rather, from Ontario, Canada – is the ultimate garlic-lover’s garlic.

It has a pungent, spicy flavor that mellows out with cooking, but it’s not so hot that you’ll be breathing sulfuric fumes onto all your friends for the next few days.

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Each clove is rich and deep, with a musky, intense, searing kick, all wrapped up in a loose skin that makes peeling a breeze.

And as you probably guessed, ‘Polish Hardneck’ is a hardneck type, which means it stores well for a long time.

You can learn more of the basics in our guide to growing garlic.

In this article, we’ll talk all about where this garlic cultivar came from and how to grow it in your garden. Here’s what you can expect:

Before we dive in, let’s clarify a few things. There are two varieties of garlic: hardneck (var. ophioscorodon) and softneck (var. sativum).

Hardnecks have a hard central stalk that forms a flower head, though we usually remove these to encourage larger bulb production.

Hardneck types are planted in the fall so they can have a period of cold, known as vernalization.

Within the hardneck subspecies, there are three groups: porcelain, purple striped, and rocambole. By the way, if you want to know more about the different groups, we have a guide that explains the 10 groups of garlic in detail.

Porcelain cultivars have only recently gained attention in the US, but in the past 15 years, they have exploded on the market.

These are typically large cultivars with white skin and bold flavors, though there is