Garlic Family Groups

Hardnecks

Weakly Bolting Hardneck

Softnecks

Asiatics
Weakly Bolting Hardneck
Allium Sativum Ophioscorodon

In General

Asiatics are often lumped together with other "weakly bolting hardnecks," but they are apparently quite distinct as a horticultural group, more closely aligned with Glazed Purple Stripe—genetically speaking—than to other groups such as Turban and Creole. It was impossible to determine such distinctions prior to the advent of affordable genotyping equipment.

Korean Mountain - Asiatic

SHOP ASIATICS

On the Tongue

According to Ted Jordan Meredith, "it's possible for Asiatics to have exceptionally fine flavor, for more closely resembling Purple Stripes than Artichokes or Turbans."

In the Field

"Asiatic cultivars are readily identifiable by their distinctive umbel capsule. When fully developed, the capsule has an exceptionally long beak that is broad and hollow for a substantial portion of its length. Ron Engeland (1995) describes is as looking like a long, wrinkled bean pod. The bulbils are also distinctive. They range from large to huge in some cultivars and are often very dark reddish purple. For sume Asiatics, the umbel capsules may have as few as 2 to 4 bulbils. If planted, the bulbils are large enough to produce a small multicloved bulb at harvest. Unlike most bolting hardnecks, Asiatics do not require scape removal to produce normal large bulbs, though scape removal may yield slightly larger bulbs in some growing conditions.

Asiatic leaves are yellow-green and relatively broad. Maturity can come quickly in warmer growing climates, and the bulb wrappers will split if the garlic is not harvested as soon s one or two leaves begin to turn brown, in contrast to other garlic cultivars than can and should be left longer to fully develop."

Ted Jordan Meredith, The Complete Book of Garlic, p223

Cultivars We Typically Carry

Korean Mountain

Straightforward and fresh with wasabi-like heat and a barley or wheat grass finish. Came to us in 2013 from Nicholas Peterson at Nicola Valley Produce in Merritt, BC.

Portuguese

New to Rasa Creek in 2021. A gorgeous looking bulb grown in the South Kootenay Mountains of British Columbia.

Sakura

Sakura's pungency comes on slow but does build and remains longer than some; with earthy, grounded qualities that remind one of the mountains of Japan.

Wildfire

No one will question this one's name. A powerful, verging on belligerent, garlic with exceptional lasting quality and character.

Seed Garlic for Farms & Gardens