Should I Grow Hardneck or Softneck Garlic in Tucson?

Table of Contents:

Should I Grow Hardneck Garlic in Tucson?
Should I Grow Softneck Garlic in Tucson?
What Type of Garlic to Grow in Tucson
Final Thoughts...

garlic organic hanging from ceiling curing for storage — Garlic hanging to cure for storage

Should I Grow Hardneck Garlic in Tucson?

garlic plants growing in raised bed pine needle mulch chop and drop — Hardneck garlic produces delicious garlic scapes, a rare and fleeting culinary treat.

Despite hardneck garlic not usually being grown in the south, Tucson is an exception.

Hardneck garlic would never fly in Southern Florida, for instance, because the humidity keeps the winter nights warmer than in the desert.

garlic plants growing in organic hugelkultur raised bed garden — *A raised bed garden full of garlic*

In Tucson, though, we get more frost and chilly night in the winter than many other Southern states. The low humidity of a desert climate causes extreme temperature drops not seen in more humid climates. This winter I saw 17F (-8.3C) in my garden, in a climate that regularly hits 117F (47.2C) in the summer!

These chilly nights and frosts seem to be enough to allow us to grow hardneck varieties quite successfully in Tucson.

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pink hardneck garlic cloves organic black background

If you decide to grow hardneck garlic in Tucson, I would suggest vernalizing it in a refrigerator for at least six weeks before in October planting, however.

Refrigerate in a plastic zip bag with a few holes poked in it. This will maintain some moisture in the garlic, but also allow it to slowly dry out somewhat, and not go moldy.

I have had great success with an unknown red hardneck here in Tucson, which I found a local farm was growing.

I trusted that they had picked a variety of garlic, which would grow in this climate.

I was surprised to find it was a hardneck, but after growing at myself, I can see why. hardneck varieties can absolutely crush it in Tucson!

Check out the red hardneck after I grew it out here:

pink hardneck organic garlic grown in tucson — Red hardneck variety that grew incredibly well for me in Tucson.

This may seem surprising to see in the Southwest, but the cold desert nights and refrigerator vernalization make it possible.

Should I Grow Softneck Garlic in Tucson?

Sure, it'll work!

garlic scapes harvested in bowl from garden — Remember that softneck garlic does not produce scapes like these. If you want garlic scapes, go with a hardneck variety.

What Type of Garlic to Grow in Tucson

You can grow hardneck or softneck garlic in Tucson!

If you're in a particularly hot microclimate, though, you may have more trouble with hardneck. Conversely if you're in a cold pocket, the hardneck should grow tremendously well for you in Tucson.

Final Thoughts...

fresh garlic cloves and scapes with onions and eggplant on cutting board cooking — *Try growing both varieties and see which ones works best for you. The important part is that you're growing your own! Your meals will never be the same again.*

Most folks would likely assume that hardneck varieties of garlic would just not do well at all in Tucson. Well, now we know that this just ain't the case!

I encourage you to give hardneck a try if you were located in or around Tucson, and let us know in the comment section whether you have success or not. I believe you will find it to be well worth your while.

Tucson gives us the best of both worlds with a choice of hardneck or softneck garlic, as well as a shorter 7 month garlic season (late-October -to- early-May).

Some climates take as long as 10 months for garlic, so be thankful that this climate can turn out amazing garlic quick!