New for Next Summer: Varietal Garlics

Garlic isn't just garlic. There are over 600 known varieties, and all have their own, unique, taste. After tasting some wonderful garlics that you just can't find in the store, we decided to grow a few to offer our customers next summer.

Garlic is a fall-planted crop here in Ohio. That allows the bulbs to start growing and put down roots so they can get going faster in the spring. We tilled up a new plot to put the garlic in so that we don't disturb it during garden planting in the spring.

We planted four varieties, chosen to give us samples of several different types of garlics:

• German Red, a  hardneck variety known for its strong, hot, spicy flavor
• Inchellium Red,  with an amazing, rich, bold garlic flavor--our very favorite for making garlic bread
• Purple Glazer, a  garlic with a sweet, warm, rich flavor perfect for roasting
• Silver Rose, a beautiful garlic with a strong, garlic-y flavor but very little little "heat"

Here they are, my little beauties just pushing up through the ground. I don't expect any more growth this year, but next spring we should have some neat garlic "scapes" to show you.

I hope you're as excited as we are. My extended family--mother, father, sisters, and even my neighbors--are already lined up, slobbering over them. I promise I'll set some aside for you, though!