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Asiatic Variety of Gourmet Garlics
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Buy early harvesting Asiatic garlics below for immediate shipment |
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Overview of the Asiatic Variety of Hardneck Garlics Most of the Asiatics I have grown have had stalks (called scapes) that form an upside-down U before straightening up. All cultivars of a given variety of garlic generally have the same scape pattern before they straighten up; all Rocambole scapes form a double loop while Purple Stripe garlics form 3/4 of a loop. Asiatics have a smaller seedhead (properly called an umbel) while Turbans have a larger umbel that resembles a turban. The umbel is covered with a membrane called a spathe and the pointed end of the spathe is called a beak. Asiatics have a beak of 12 to 18 inches, the longest beaks of all garlic varieties. Not all have scapes but most usually do. the umbels are also called bulbil capsules and Asiatic garlics have few but large, pea-size bulbils in their bulbil capsule. Asiatics usually have 9-12 large fat cloves that form something of a circle around a center that may or may not have a scape. There are few or no tiny interior cloves. Asiatic garlic's bulb wrappers are often very white but they can have some color some years.
Asiatic and Turban Varieties of Weakly Bolting Hardneck Garlics Asiatic and Turban garlics were originally classified as separate groups that were considered part of the Artichoke garlics but recent DNA research done independently by a couple of Garlic is Life colleagues of mine, Dr. Gayle Volk of the USDA in Fort Collins, Colorado and Dr. Joachim Keller of the Institute for plant Research in Gaterslaben, Germany, shows them both to be weakly-bolting hardnecks that are distinct from each other as well as the other groups of garlics. Asiatic and Turban garlics are often confused so I am presenting information about both here together to help people identify them. Asiatics and Turban garlics have as many similarities as differences. Asiatics have 8-12 fat cloves, Turbans have about 6 really big cloves.
Asiatics have a few pea-size purple bulbils whereas Turbans have 30 to 100 pinkish rice-size bulbils. They are the very earliest harvesting of all garlics and if you can grow them you'll have garlic before anyone else is anywhere near ready to harvest. They are short storing garlics as most don't last more than 5 months at room temperature before sprouting. They are always the first garlics to sprout in the fall. They are also unusual in that they don't mature gradually like all the other garlics; when they are ready, their tops start to fall over, like onions. That's too late. The time to check their bulb size and get ready to start harvesting them is in mid-spring before their leaves fall over and they lose all their bulb wrappers, as they will if they stay in the ground for very long after they are ready to be harvested. If they lose their bulb wrappers, their storage time will be reduced even more than usual. The secret to success in growing great Asiatic and Turban is to dig down and watch the bulbs develop and when they get big enough to suit you, go ahead and dig them up, don't wait for them to fall over. You simply have to harvest them before they fall over. They do seem to grow exceptionally well in dry climates like the southwestern USA, if properly irrigated. Asiatics and Turbans should be a part of every garlic lover's garden along with long storing ones so you can have fresh garlic all year around. |
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You must settle up your order (check out) from one grower before buying from a different grower - just like at your neighborhood farmers market. |
Asian Tempest - A strong early harvesting Asiatic garlic.
Buy Direct from our Growers below and Save. Harvests VERY early in season, often May or June - stores into fall or even until winter. - We do not yet have a vendor who grows Asian Tempest for 2013. -
Asiatic garlics typically have about eight cloves per bulb in a circular configuration around a central scape. They're generally large bulbs with fat cloves. The bulb wrappers are firm, tight and vivid with broad, bold purple stripes merging into areas of solid purple. A very strongly colored garlic. The clove covers are silky and a lovely golden tan with a rosy aura and tiny pink veins. It is one of the very first cultivars planted in the fall and the first harvested in the spring around here. Asian Tempest is an early harvesting hot, strong weakly-bolting Asiatic garlic at a time when nobody else has any. That's reason enough to grow it right there. If you grow it in conjunction with longer storing garlics, you can have good garlic year around. Asian Tempest came from South Korea and when you first bite into a clove suddenly your entire mouth seems to explode in flames, your face turns red and you break out in an instant heavy sweat. The fire rages hotter and hotter for about 30 to 45 seconds and you begin to wonder what to do about it, then it begins to gently dissipate and is almost gone at the end of one minute leaving you to discover the rich earthy garlickness hiding behind the heat. It took 30 to 45 minutes for the hair on the back of my neck to dry-just from a half of a clove. I no longer wonder where fire breathing dragons come from in Asian folklore - they're ordinary people who have eaten too much of these fiery garlics. While it is not the hottest garlic I have ever tasted, it isn't any too far behind. In my limited experience, (I've only tasted 50 kinds) Metechi and Skuri #2 (Purple Stripes) are a little hotter and perhaps Wild Buff and Rosewood, too-both porcelains. If you want a powerful early harvesting garlic that will leave you breathless, or should I say breathful, try a few of these two Chinese firecrackers, they should have a very high allicin potential and be good medicinal or insecticide garlics-but make sure your fire insurance premiums are paid up first. After ordering, use your back arrow key to return to this point, |
Sonoran - An earthy, rich Asiatic hardneck Garlic.
- Order Sonoran direct from our growers below - Harvests VERY early - late spring to early Summer - stores until around November-December. Sonoran is very early harvesting so you have garlic before anyone else and it grows well in the great American Southwest from Austin/San Antonio all the way to San Diego. If it grows well in the Sonoran Desert, for which it is named, it should grow well for you. Growing it in conjunction with a longer storing garlic like Ajo Rojo may mean you never run out of good garlic. Asiatic garlics typically have six to ten cloves per bulb in a circular configuration around a central scape. They're generally large bulbs with fat cloves. The bulb wrappers are firm, tight and vivid with broad, bold purple stripes merging into areas of solid purple. A very strongly colored garlic. The clove covers are a silky golden tan with a rosy aura. It is one of the very first cultivars planted in the fall and the first harvested in the spring around here. The taste puts it in a class almost by itself. When you first bite into a clove there is a beautiful musky garlic flavor that has just enough pungency (hotness) to let you know it is real garlic but not enough to be offensive so you settle back and enjoy the marvelous flavor. And after a minute or so, the rich garlickiness is replaced with a smooth warm aftertaste that just makes you feel good. If you are looking for an early season garlic that harvests before any of the others and is great for raw eating and stores about six months from harvest at room temp., this one is for you. Asiatic and Turban garlics are usually pretty hot but this one is for those who love garlic flavor but who don't want the hotness. After ordering, use your back arrow key to return to this point,
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Japanese - An earthy, rich Asiatic hardneck Garlic.
- Order Japanese direct from our growers below - Harvests VERY early - late spring to early Summer - stores until around November-December. May or may not be available this year. - Order now for shipping in late summer/early fall.- Asiatic garlics typically have six to eight cloves per bulb in a circular configuration around a central scape. They're generally large bulbs with fat cloves. The bulb wrappers are firm, tight and vivid with broad, bold purple stripes merging into areas of solid purple. A very strongly colored garlic. The clove covers are silky and a lovely golden tan with a rosy aura and tiny pink veins. It is one of the very first cultivars planted in the fall and the first harvested in the spring around here. The taste puts it in a class almost by itself. Typical of Asiatic garlics when bitten into raw, Japanese starts off rich with flavor but devoid of warmth, much less heat but after about 10 seconds a wave of warmth starts at the back of the mouth and spreads toward the front and intensifies as it comes on until it becomes very hot, levels off for about 30 seconds and gradually subsides into a mellow aftertaste that that makes you feel good inside and out and puts a warm smile on your face and a feeling of warm satisfaction in your soul.
After ordering, use your back arrow key to return to this point, |
Korean Red - A rich yet mellow Asiatic Garlic.
Harvests VERY early in season - stores about 5-6 months. After ordering, use your back arrow key to return to this point, otherwise the shopping cart will return you to our home page. Asiatic garlics typically have six to eight cloves per bulb in a circular configuration around a central scape. They're generally large bulbs with fat cloves. The bulb wrappers are firm, tight and vivid with broad, bold purple stripes merging into areas of solid purple. A very strongly colored garlic. The clove covers are silky and a lovely golden tan with a rosy aura and tiny pink veins. It is one of the very first cultivars planted in the fall and the first harvested in the spring around here. The taste puts it in a class almost by itself. When you first bite into a clove there is a beautiful pure garlic flavor that is utterly devoid of heat, so you begin to settle back and enjoy the marvelous flavor while waiting for the hotness to sear your mouth any second but it never comes. And after a minute or so, the rich garlickiness is replaced with a smooth warm aftertaste that just makes you feel good. If you are looking for an early season garlic that harvests before any of the others and is great for raw eating and stores about six months from harvest at room temp., this one is for you. Asiatic and Turban garlics are usually pretty hot but this one is for those who love garlic flavor but who don't want the hotness. |
Russian Redstreak, An Asiatic Garlic --May not available this year.-- Russian Redstreak has evolved from a Rocambole garlic, Russian Red, according to Ron Engeland. If so, it is one of the few garlics that are related to Rocamboles that does well for us in our growing conditions. They tend to be streaked lightly with purple and are very early maturing garlics that must be pulled out of the ground before they get overly mature and split open the bulb wrappers. The Asiatic group still produce a seed stalk (scape) even though they're softnecks. They often have some large dark purple bulbils on their necks. These bulbils are truly beautifully colored. Failing to remove the scapes does not seem to harm bulb size very much. They are slightly smaller than Red Toch on the average and about the size of Chet's but with more color. They are supposed to be rather sharp tasting but they have been delightfully mild and full flavored with only a little heat for us in our climate. They are a productive garlic, store very well, present a nice appearance and have an excellent raw flavor. If you want a very early maturing garlic that can be grown almost anywhere in the country and is a prolific reproducer, try a few of these jewels from Moscow. |
Asian Rose - A strong
Asiatic Garlic.
- Sorry, Not Available this year..- Asiatic garlics typically have six to eight cloves per bulb in a circular configuration around a central scape. They're generally large bulbs with fat cloves. The bulb wrappers are firm, tight and vivid with broad, bold purple stripes merging into areas of solid purple. A very strongly colored garlic. The clove covers are silky and a lovely golden tan with a rosy aura and tiny pink veins. It is one of the very first cultivars planted in the fall and the first harvested in the spring around here. The taste puts it in a class almost by itself. When you first bite into a clove there is a beautiful pure garlic flavor that is utterly devoid of heat, so you begin to settle back and enjoy the marvelous flavor and after six or eight seconds you can begin to feel a slight warmth in the back of your mouth and you start to say "Ah, there it is, I knew there had to be a little heat." Suddenly your entire mouth seems to explode in flames, your face turns red and you break out in an instant heavy sweat. The fire rages hotter and hotter for about 30 to 45 seconds and you begin to wonder what to do about it, then it begins to gently dissipate and is almost gone at the end of one minute leaving you to sit in your sweat and wonder whether you have the courage to take another bite any time soon. It took 30 to 45 minutes for the hair on the back of my neck to dry-just from a half of a clove. I have come to nick-name this cultivar the Chinese Time Bomb. I no longer wonder where fire breathing dragons come from in Chinese folklore - they're ordinary people who have eaten too much of these Chinese garlics. While it is not the hottest garlic I have ever tasted, it isn't any too far behind. In my limited experience, (I've only tasted 50 kinds) Metechi and Skuri #2 (Purple Stripes) are a little hotter and perhaps Wild Buff and Rosewood, too-both porcelains. If you want a powerful early harvesting garlic that will leave you breathless, or should I say breathful, try a few of these two Chinese firecrackers, they should have a very high allicin potential and be good medicinal or insecticide garlics-but make sure your fire insurance premiums are paid up first.
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- The information below is from gourmetgarlicgardens.com -
Please read.
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Important notes for credit/debit card users:
This Farmers market is like your local farmers market.
Disclaimer
Prices and availability of garlic subject to change without notice.
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How Our Garlics are Grown All the garlic for sale in our online farmers market was grown without the use of petrochemical pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizers; only natural and non-toxic fertilizers and pest control methods are used. Some of our growers are Certified Organic and some are Certified Naturally Grown, which we regard as equal to Certified Organic in every meaningful way but without all the bureaucratic entanglements. All our farmers market growers grow organically and some are Certified Organic but not all want to be certified Organic because of the paperwork and reporting requirements and are among the best available sources of sustainable/ organic Garlic and they become Certified Naturally Grown, where the regulation comes from their fellow members rather than a federal bureacracy. We do not allow growers who use synthetic petroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, fungicides or herbicides to participate in our farmers market.
All garlic in our farmers market is grown in North America, no others allowed.
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Four ways to buy from us: If you know the name of the garlic you want to buy you can look it up in an alphabetical listing and click on its name...or If you don't know the name of a good garlic, look one up in a listing by taste - mild, medium or strong and click on its name...or Go to our farmers market and select a grower you feel good about and buy from them...or Call me at (325) 348-3049 Order now for shipment in late summer/early fall 2013.
This Farmers market is like your local farmers market.
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New - The Complete Book of Garlic is the best, most comprehensive book yet about garlic.
The Complete Book of Garlic
by Ted Jordan Meredith

The Classic Commercial Garlic Growers Guide
Growing Great Garlic
by Ron Engeland
A Miscellany of Garlic
is the newest book about garlic and it is well-written and reads easy as the author has a warm friendly writing style that makes it fun to read.
by Trina Clickner
If you don't see what you want, E-Mail bob@web-access.net
![]() Basic Ordering Information On any page of this website where the lists of garlic cultivars are displayed you can click on the name of any garlic and get a picture and/or a detailed description of that variety and some buttons you can click on to buy direct from different growers. Just decide how many pounds of which varieties you want from each grower and use your credit card to buy on line. Disclaimer We make no guarantees or warranties of any kind whatsoever, expressed or implied, with respect to our garlic or the garlic sold by any growers who sell their garlic through our website. We do not guarantee or warrant the fitness, suitability or usability of our garlic for any particular purpose. We state only that the varieties we and the growers who sell through our website ship are to the best of our knowledge, the varieties we say they are. Any and all liability from all causes is limited to a refund of a customer's payment for the garlic in question. We and the growers who sell through our website take great care to grow, harvest, cure and store our garlic properly and we will not knowingly ship garlic that is damaged, defective or diseased in any way we can see, feel or smell. We pack the garlic so as to minimize any probability of damage in shipment. If; however, you receive garlic that goes bad within 30 days, please call or e-mail the grower immediately stating the problem and return the defective garlic to the grower via Priority US Mail and the grower will either replace it at no additional charge, or refund your money for the defective garlic. It is our desire to provide our customers with the best garlic we can produce and enhance our reputation for excellence - but we cannot be held responsible for what happens after the garlic leaves our care. All products are for sale to United States addresses only. We are not familiar with import-export laws and do not wish to engage in foreign trade at this time. More TO COME... |
Garlic Books, Garlic Accessories and Gardening Tools, Etc.


Added May 30, 2007 - Pictures of our Fabulous wildflowers this spring. -

Bob Phillips' Texas Country Reporter did a story on me and the garlic for their long running TV program -
click here to see the 6:28 video on youtube:

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Bob Anderson
Garlicmeister, a self-inflicted title for amusement only.
Photo courtesy of Bill Yeates.

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