Garlic Chesnok Red Bulbs

Days to Maturity: 90 to 150

Garlic Chesnok Red is one of the best cooking garlics around. A hardneck variety, Chesnok Red is very flavorful, having won taste tests for best-baking garlic from Sunset Magazine, Rodale, Martha Stewart, and more. The large, easy-to-peel cloves keep their shape and full-bodied flavor when cooked, making them a valuable addition to many types of cuisine. This purple stripe garlic is sold in a 1/2-pound bag containing at least 2 to 3 bulbs.

This late-season garlic is especially good for baking, due to its creamy texture. The bulbs are white on the outside with 8 to 10 brilliant red cloves inside. Garlic Chesnok Red is also an excellent choice for storing, as it lasts 4 to 6 months.

Garlic Chesnok Red is quite easy to grow, having very few problems with pests. Plant it in rich, well-drained soil—garlic doesn't do well in dense soils with few nutrients. You should separate the cloves just prior to planting, placing them 4 to 6 inches apart and covering them with 1 to 2 inches of soil. In the north, garlic is best planted in October, while southern regions should plant between November and January.