Growing your own gourmet garlic (allium sativum) is one of the most rewarding experiences you can have in the home garden. It’s a great vegetable to grow for several reasons. First, it is very easy to grow and does not require a lot of space. Second, garlic can be planted in the fall after many other crops have been harvested. This means you can grow plenty of it without worrying about taking up to much precious space. Finally, there are many different types of garlic, each with its unique flavor and characteristics.In this article, I will discuss the specific benefits of growing Inchelium Red garlic, which I consider the best softneck garlic variety. It was discovered on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington State, and it’s the oldest strain of garlic in North America.
If you only want to grow one variety of garlic, here are five reasons you should grow Inchelium Red Softneck Garlic.
1. Inchelium Red Garlic Has a Mild, Crowd-Pleasing Flavor
Inchelium red garlic is a variety of garlic that is beloved for its mild flavor. This makes it a great option for cooking, as it won’t overwhelm other ingredients. It’s also perfect for using raw in dishes like salads and dips, where other varieties of garlic might be too strong. Authentic brushetta is another dish that calls for raw garlic (the raw garlic is actually rubbed on the toasted bread slices before serving), so Inchelium Red garlic is perfect for this use. It’s also heavenly when wrapped in foil and roasted in the oven. If you’re looking for a versatile garlic that can be enjoyed both cooked and raw, Inchelium red is a great option.
2. Each Bulb is Huge & Has Almost 20 Cloves
If you’re looking for a garlic variety that gives you a great return on your investment, look no further than Inchelium red garlic.
This variety is known for its large bulbs, which can contain up to 20 cloves.
This high clove count means that every time you grow Inchelium Red garlic, you’re getting a lot of bang for your buck. Not only are the bulbs large, but they’re also very high-yielding. In fact, this variety is so productive that it’s definitely worth your while to invest in it.
This is especially helpful if you only have a small plot to grow in. So if you’re looking for a garlic variety that produces bulbs of a large size, Inchelium red is the way to go.
3. The Cloves Split Easily When It's Time to Plant
One of the great things about Inchelium Red garlic is that it is very easy to split into individual cloves when planting.
Other softneck garlics like Silverwhite Silverskin often have 2 or more small cloves bound together with several layers of papery skin. Check this out to see what I mean. These pictures show tiny garlic bulbs wrapped in layers with each other. This makes planting the garlic extremely difficult:
This can make it quite difficult to spilt into individual cloves for planting.
As a result, you may end up with a large percentage of your silverwhite silverskin garlic bulbs growing right on top of each other with stunted growth because what you thought was a single clove was actually three or many more.
By contrast, Inchelium Red garlic cloves are loosely held together and can be easily pulled apart by hand. If you’re looking for an easy-to-plant garlic, Inchelium Red is a great option.
This is a benefit to Inchelium Red that you won’t hear many people talk about, and you can only appreciate if you’ve grown other varieties OR you read my blog!
4. Inchelium Red Stores for a Long Time
Inchelium red garlic is known for its long storage life. To store your garlic, you must cure your garlic after harvesting. This process helps to dry out the garlic and heal any wounds, which in turn prevents rot and mold from setting in. Once your garlic is cured, store it in a cool, dark place with good ventilation. An unheated basement or root cellar is ideal. Avoid places that are too cool and humid, as this can cause your garlic to sprout or start to rot. You definitely DON’T want to store your garlic in the refrigerator, because it loves to sprout at around 40 degrees Fahrenheit. With proper care, your Inchelium red garlic can be stored for up to 8 months.
5. Each Bulb Has a Variety of Clove Sizes
Inchelium red is a type of garlic that is known for its variety of clove sizes. This can be helpful if you want to have more control over the amount of garlic you use. For example, if you only need a small amount of garlic for a recipe, you can use the smaller cloves.
Alternatively, if you want a lot of garlic flavor, you can use the larger cloves. Inchelium red garlic also has a milder flavor than other types of garlic, so it may be a good choice if you are sensitive to the strong taste of garlic. Overall, the variety of clove sizes makes inchelium red a versatile option for cooking.
Where to Buy Inchelium Red
I’ve had great success with purchasing Inchelium Red garlic at these companies:
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a productive garlic variety that is easy to plant and has a long storage life, Inchelium Red is a great option. This variety has large bulbs with a mild flavor, and each bulb has a variety of clove sizes. If you’ve got space for one variety, or want an all-around rock star garlic, it should be Inchelium Red.
