Porcelain garlic

The biggest cloves.

Good for fast peeling, roasting whole heads and raw heat.

By winter

Frozen hard for weeks. Made for hard winters. The hardiest of the hardnecks.
Frost, then thaw, repeatedly. Grows well where frost comes and goes.
Rare or brief frost. Not a good fit. Try Artichoke, Silverskin or Creole.

At a glance

Neck: Hardneck
Keeps: 5 to 7 months
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6, very large
Flavor: Hot and sulfurous.
Peeling: Easy. Large cloves, thick skins.
Braiding: No
Harvest: Late
Seed per pound: About 40 plants per pound of seed, the fewest of the true garlics.

Varieties to order

Georgian Fire

Hardneck · Keeps 5 to 6 months · Mid to late harvest

Order from Filaree Keene Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Filaree)
Porcelain (Keene)
Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Filaree)
hard (Keene)
hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 8 (Filaree)
4 to 6 large (Keene)
5 to 9 (Hood River)
Per pound: 4 to 6 bulbs/lb (Filaree)
6 to 8 bulbs/lb, 30 to 40 cloves/lb (Keene)
30 to 45 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 6 months (Filaree)
5 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Very Hot (Filaree)
One of the hottest Porcelains, pleasant heat, good for salsa (Keene)
Hottest (Hood River)
Climate: Cold winters (Filaree)
Northern States, consistent yields (Keene)
Zones 1 to 7 (Hood River)
Harvest: Late (Filaree)
Mid (Hood River)

Music

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months · Mid to late harvest

Order from Filaree Keene Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Filaree)
Porcelain (Keene)
Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Filaree)
hard (Keene)
hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 8 (Filaree)
4 to 6 large (Keene)
4 to 6 large easy-peeling (Hood River)
Per pound: 4 to 6 bulbs/lb (Filaree)
6 to 8 bulbs/lb, 30 to 40 cloves/lb (Keene)
25 to 30 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 6 months (Filaree)
6 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Hot (Filaree)
Rich, garlicky, strong, robust, pungent (Keene)
Medium-Hot (Hood River)
Climate: Cold winters (Filaree)
Grows well in the Northern States (Keene)
Performs well in cold climates (Hood River)
Harvest: Late (Filaree)
Mid (Hood River)

Romanian Red

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months · Late harvest

Order from Filaree Keene Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Filaree)
Porcelain (Keene)
Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Keene)
hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
4 to 6 (Hood River)
Per pound: 6 to 8 bulbs/lb, 30 to 40 cloves/lb (Keene)
25 to 30 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 6 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Rich, very hot, lingering aftertaste raw (Keene)
Hot, sulfurous (Hood River)
Climate: Zones 1 to 7 (Hood River)
Harvest: Late (Hood River)
Scapes: Yes (Hood River)

Armenian

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months · Late harvest

Order from Keene Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Keene)
Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Keene)
hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
4 to 6 (Hood River)
Per pound: 20 to 32 cloves/lb (Keene)
25 to 30 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 6 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Rich, garlicky, strong, robust; easy to peel jumbo cloves (Keene)
Hot (Hood River)
Climate: Northern States (Keene)
Zones 1 to 7, cold winter climates (Hood River)
Harvest: Late (Hood River)
Scapes: Yes (Hood River)

Georgian Crystal

Hardneck

Order from Filaree Keene

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Filaree)
Porcelain (Keene)
Neck: hard (Keene)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
Per pound: 6 to 8 bulbs/lb, 30 to 40 cloves/lb (Keene)
Flavor: Milder than German Extra Hardy, easy to peel jumbo cloves (Keene)
Climate: Cold winters (Filaree)
Northern States (Keene)

Ivan

Hardneck · Keeps 5 to 6 months · Late harvest

Order from Keene Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Keene)
Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Keene)
hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
4 to 6 (Hood River)
Per pound: 6 to 8 bulbs/lb, 30 to 40 cloves/lb (Keene)
40 to 45 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 5 to 6 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Rich, garlicky, strong, robust raw, sweet roasted (Keene)
Hot, complex and subtle, less spicy than other Porcelains (Hood River)
Climate: Canada and Northern States (Keene)
Zones 1 to 7, cold winter climates (Hood River)
Harvest: Early for a Porcelain (Keene)
Late (Hood River)
Scapes: Yes (Keene)
Yes (Hood River)

Leningrad

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months · Late harvest

Order from Filaree Keene

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Filaree)
Porcelain (Keene)
Neck: hard (Filaree)
hard (Keene)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 (Filaree)
4 to 6 large (Keene)
Per pound: 4 to 6 bulbs/lb (Filaree)
8 bulbs / 40 cloves per lb (Keene)
Keeps: 6 months (Filaree)
Flavor: Hot (Filaree)
Very strong, hot, potent, easy to peel (Keene)
Climate: Cold winters (Filaree)
Best in cold regions (Keene)
Harvest: Late (Filaree)

Majestic

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months or more · Late harvest

Order from Filaree Keene

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Filaree)
Porcelain (Keene)
Neck: hard (Filaree)
hard (Keene)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 7 (Filaree)
4 to 6 large (Keene)
Per pound: 4 to 6 bulbs/lb (Filaree)
30 to 50 cloves/lb (Keene)
Keeps: 6+ months (Filaree)
Flavor: Hot (Filaree)
One of the mildest Porcelains, easy to peel, good raw (Keene)
Climate: Cold winters (Filaree)
Northern States (Keene)
Harvest: Late (Filaree)

Zemo

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months · Late harvest

Order from Keene Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Keene)
Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Keene)
hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
4 to 6 (Hood River)
Per pound: 25 to 30 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 6 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Hot raw, sweeter cooked and roasted (Keene)
Hot and spicy, high allicin (Hood River)
Climate: Northern-mid regions and Canada (Keene)
Zones 1 to 7 (Hood River)
Harvest: Late (Hood River)
Scapes: Yes (Hood River)

German Extra Hardy

Hardneck

Order from Keene

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Keene)
Neck: hard (Keene)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
Per pound: 6 to 8 bulbs/lb (Keene)
Keeps: Longer storing (Keene)
Flavor: Rich, garlicky, strong, robust; easy to peel jumbo cloves (Keene)
Climate: Northern States (Keene)

German White

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months · Late harvest

Order from Filaree

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Filaree)
Neck: hard (Filaree)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 8 (Filaree)
Per pound: 4 to 6 bulbs/lb (Filaree)
Keeps: 6 months (Filaree)
Flavor: Medium-Hot (Filaree)
Climate: Cold winters (Filaree)
Harvest: Late (Filaree)

Italian Red

Hardneck

Order from Keene

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Keene)
Neck: hard (Keene)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 (Keene)
Per pound: 15 to 25 cloves/lb (Keene)
Flavor: Hotter Porcelain (Keene)

Montana Giant

Hardneck

Order from Keene

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Keene)
Neck: hard (Keene)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
Per pound: 6 to 8 bulbs/lb, 30 to 40 cloves/lb (Keene)
Flavor: Full flavored, slightly spicy, not overpowering (Keene)
Climate: Northern States (Keene)

Norquay

Hardneck · Keeps 6 months · Mid harvest

Order from Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large easy-peeling (Hood River)
Per pound: 25 to 30 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 6 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Nice spice, strong raw (Hood River)
Harvest: Mid (Hood River)

Northern White

Hardneck

Order from Keene

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Keene)
Neck: hard (Keene)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 large (Keene)
Per pound: 6 to 8 bulbs/lb, 30 to 40 cloves/lb (Keene)
Flavor: Very strong, hot, potent; good for mincing, baking, grilling (Keene)
Climate: Documented to -18F in eastern Oregon (Keene)

Norway

Hardneck · Keeps 5 to 6 months · Late harvest

Order from Hood River

What each supplier says

Group: Porcelain (Hood River)
Neck: hard (Hood River)
Cloves per bulb: 4 to 6 (Hood River)
Per pound: 40 to 45 cloves/lb (Hood River)
Keeps: 5 to 6 months (Hood River)
Flavor: Hot (Hood River)
Climate: Zones 1 to 7, cold winter climates (Hood River)
Harvest: Late (Hood River)
Scapes: Yes (Hood River)

What the catalogs say

Four to six cloves the size of unshelled Brazil nuts, in one ring around a stiff stem. Boundary recommends Porcelains to first-time growers in cold climates and calls them the hardiest. Filaree notes the bulbs are frequently mistaken for elephant garlic. Genetically differentiated in the USDA study. Varieties include Music, German White, Georgian Crystal, Romanian Red, Leningrad.

Cornell CCE Onondaga recommends Porcelain for mild climates. Boundary, Keene and Hood River treat it as a cold-climate group. No second source was found for the Cornell position.