Garlic - Garlic Variety Recommendations by USDA Growing Zone

Selecting the right garlic variety for your area can greatly impact your gardening success. Generally, the type of garlic you need to plant depends on your growing zone, which indicates the average annual coldest weather during your winter. Follow these steps to determine the best varieties for your area:

To Determine Your Growing Zone:

Go to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Enter your zip code at the top of the map to determine your growing zone.

These are our recommendations by Zone for 2024:

Zone 5

Recommended Type: Hardneck varieties

Ideal Varieties: Montana Zemo, German White Stiffneck

Reason: These varieties are very cold-resilient and will thrive in Zone 5 conditions.

Zone 6

Recommended Type: Both hardneck and softneck varieties grow well

Suggested Focus: Hardneck varieties are particularly resilient to cold

Zones 7-8

Recommended Types: All garlic varieties (softneck and hardneck)

Reason: These zones are optimal for growing garlic, allowing for a wide range of varieties to flourish.

Zone 9

Recommended Types: All garlic varieties, with caution on very cold-loving types

Suggested Approach: While all varieties will grow, consider avoiding Montana Zemo and German White Stiffneck if looking for optimal performance.

Zone 10

Recommended Types: Softneck varieties, plus select hardneck varieties

Highlight Varieties: Music, Ajo Rojo, Creole Red, Elephant (hardneck)

Reason: Softneck varieties thrive in warmer climates, while the listed hardneck varieties can also perform well in Zone 10.

Zone 11

Recommended Type: Softneck varieties

Considerations: Ajo Rojo and Creole Red (hardneck) may succeed, but softneck varieties are generally more suitable for Zone 11 conditions.

Garlic - Garlic Variety Recommendations by USDA Growing ZoneUpdated 6 months ago