Every year, I get a little more excited about garlic season — from planting in the fall to that first tug when the large bulbs come out of the ground at harvest time. This year, I grew different varieties of organic and heirloom varieties, and I wanted to share the types I planted last year, why I chose them, and how they’ve performed so far.
If you’re curious about what variety of garlic to add to your garlic beds or just want some inspiration for next season, here’s a peek at the varieties of garlic growing at Little Mountain Ranch.
🌿 Organic Garlic Varieties
Music (certified organic)
Music is one of the classic hardneck garlic varieties, known for its reliability in colder climates like mine (Zone 3b). Even though the individual cloves of garlic I started with were on the smaller side, Music usually gives me larger cloves with robust flavor — bold but not overpowering. It’s a favorite for roasting whole because the cloves caramelize beautifully.
Susan Delafield (certified organic)
Susan Delafield is another hardneck variety that thrives in cold climates. It’s vigorous and strong, and I’ve found it handles our long winters well. The garlic cloves are smaller than Music but pack a punch in flavor — spicy when raw, mellow when cooked. I like to save this one for soups and stews, where that garlicky backbone really shines through.
Red Russian (certified organic)
Red Russian is a standout — beautiful with its purple stripes and large cloves. It’s actually a type of Rocambole garlic, which means it has easy-to-peel skin (a real gift when you’re processing in bulk). It’s more delicate in storage, so I prioritize using this one earlier in the season.
Creme de la Rasa (certified organic)
This variety is a bit more unusual and was new to me this year. Creme de la Rasa has a smooth, rich flavor, and the bulbs are quite striking — large, with beautiful white wrappers. I’m excited to see how it stores, but so far, I’m loving it for fresh eating and quick sautés.
🌾 Non-Organic Garlic Varieties
Kettle River Giant (large, non-organic)
Kettle River Giant is one of many heirloom softneck varieties that grow well in cooler climates, and it’s well-loved for its excellent storage life. The bulbs are massive, and the flavor is mild and sweet. I like to braid the softnecks for hanging in the pantry — it’s both practical and beautiful.
Red Tochliavri (large, non-organic)
Also known as Red Toch, this variety comes from the Republic of Georgia. It’s a softneck variety with a lovely, mellow flavor — almost buttery — and excellent storage qualities. It’s one of my go-tos for everyday cooking, especially for raw applications like salad dressings where I don’t want a sharp bite.
✧ Notes on Sourcing & Costs
For those curious about the nitty-gritty:
I sourced my organic bulbs from a local farmer, Rasa Creek Farm, in Boundary Country here in BC.
Overall, I spent just under $110 on garlic this year, not counting shipping and handling.
To me, it’s worth it every time — garlic is one of my favorite things to grow in the garden because it’s easy, rewarding, and offers huge flavor and cost advantages over store-bought.
Final Thoughts
I have been growing garlic for a long time. Garlic growing has become one of those grounding, seasonal rhythms I look forward to each year in late summer. It connects me to the land, fills my pantry, and flavors our meals all winter long.
If you’re new to growing garlic or have had trouble getting your garlic seeds to grow, I’ve shared my best tips in another blog post. It covers everything from planting in early October to mulching for cold temperatures and even how to handle the curing process of the garlic harvest season.
If you’ve grown any of these different types of garlic — or have favorites you think I should try next year — I’d love to hear about them!
2 thoughts on “The Garlic Varieties I Grew This Year: Organic & Heirloom Favorites”
With regards to Garlic. I purchased Yugoslavian Garlic from Rasa Creek last year. It is by far my favourite. I used to live in 100 mile house and found it grew in my garden the best. So, when we moved to Mackenzie I tried Russian Red with satisfactory results. The Yugoslavian grew amazing in the same garden the following year. Highly recommend.
What a small world! Thank you for the recommendation.