Softneck
Polish Softneck Garlic is a cold-hardy cultivar that thrives in zones 3 through 9, making it one of the most adaptable garlic varieties for North American gardeners. This softneck type produces reliable harvests and stores exceptionally well, ideal for growers in colder climates who want garlic that won't split or fail in harsh winters. Plant in fall or early spring, space cloves 6 inches apart in full sun, and you'll have mature bulbs ready to harvest by early to midsummer.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-9
?in H x ?in W
Perennial
Moderate
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Garlic has captivated growers for centuries, woven through folklore as a plant of legendary strength and healing power. Modern science confirms what traditional wisdom long suggested: garlic truly does support immune function and cardiovascular health. Polish Softneck's softneck growth habit gives you braiding-friendly flexibility at harvest, and its excellent storage means your crop will keep for months after you cure it, making this variety as practical as it is powerful.
Polish Softneck garlic is grown for its edible bulbs, prized for boosting immune function and supporting cardiovascular health. The cloves are separated and used fresh in cooking, or the entire bulb can be roasted whole. Its softneck habit makes it particularly useful for braiding and hanging storage, a traditional method that keeps garlic fresh for extended periods.
Separate garlic bulbs into individual cloves just before planting. In northern regions, direct sow by the end of October, or 6 to 8 weeks before the ground freezes, allowing cloves to root before winter dormancy. Southern gardeners may plant as late as March. Press each clove pointy-end-up into prepared soil, spacing them 6 inches apart.
Begin checking for mature bulbs in late June if you planted in fall the previous year. Watch the foliage closely: harvest when the top 4 to 5 leaves show slight green color while lower leaves are dry and the tops begin to fall over. Harvest before the leaves dry completely, as each green leaf represents one layer of papery covering protecting the bulb underground. For spring-planted garlic, use the variety's days to maturity to estimate your harvest window. Dig carefully to avoid bruising the bulbs.
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