Music Seed Garlic

Music Garlic: Description & Growing Tips

Description:

Music garlic is a highly sought-after hardneck variety, classified as a Porcelain type. It is prized for its large, flavorful cloves, strong disease resistance, and excellent cold tolerance.

• Bulb & Cloves: Produces large, firm bulbs with 4-6 plump cloves.
• Skin & Appearance: White outer wrappers with a beautiful pinkish-purple hue on individual cloves.
• Flavor Profile: Rich, bold, and slightly spicy when raw, with a smooth, buttery taste when roasted.
• Storage Life: Stores well for 6-9 months under proper conditions.
• Cold Hardiness: Exceptionally winter-hardy, making it ideal for northern climates.

Growing Tips for Music Garlic

1. Planting Time:
   • Best planted in the fall (September to November) before the ground freezes.
   • Fall planting ensures larger bulbs, but early spring planting is possible in milder climates.
2. Soil & Location:
   • Prefers loose, well-drained, nutrient-rich soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0.
   • Requires full sun for optimal bulb development.
3. Spacing & Depth:
   • Plant cloves 2-3 inches deep, pointed end up.
   • Space them 4-6 inches apart, with rows 12 inches apart.
4. Watering & Mulching:
   • Keep soil evenly moist, especially in spring and early summer.
   • Apply mulch (straw, leaves, or grass clippings) to retain moisture, suppress weeds, and protect from harsh winter conditions.
5. Fertilization:
   • Incorporate compost or aged manure before planting.
   • Side-dress with nitrogen-rich fertilizer (like blood meal) in early spring to boost growth.
6. Scape Removal:
   • Hardneck varieties like Music produce flower stalks (scapes) in late spring.
   • Remove scapes to direct energy into bulb growth. The scapes are edible and can be used in stir-fries, pestos, and salads.
7. Harvesting & Curing:
   • Harvest in mid to late summer when the lower leaves turn brown while a few green leaves remain.
   • Cure in a dry, well-ventilated area for 2-3 weeks before trimming and storing.