Duganski Garlic

Duganski Garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Duganski’) is a hardneck garlic variety known for its large bulbs with purple highlights and its plump, uniform cloves that are easy to prepare. Its strong, rich, and slightly spicy flavour adds plenty of character to recipes while becoming milder and creamier after cooking. Its upright, blue-green foliage reaches 50 to 70 cm in height before turning yellow at maturity. Extremely hardy to Zone 2, this garlic is perfectly suited to Quebec’s cold climate and provides reliable harvests with excellent storage potential.

Plant the cloves in fall with the pointed end facing upward, approximately 5 cm deep, spacing them 10 to 15 cm apart and leaving 30 cm between rows. Choose a location in full sun with loose, fertile, organically rich, and perfectly drained soil. Incorporate well-aged compost before planting, but avoid excessive nitrogen to encourage bulb development rather than foliage growth. Water lightly after planting, then moderately during active growth. Gradually reduce watering before harvest and remove the flower scapes to encourage larger bulbs.

Duganski garlic fits naturally into family vegetable gardens, food gardens, edible flower beds, and large, well-drained containers. It grows well alongside carrots, beets, lettuce, tomatoes, and strawberries while helping deter certain pests. Its young flower scapes are edible and delicious sautéed, grilled, or added to pesto. The cloves add excellent flavour to sauces, marinades, grilled dishes, dressings, and stews. Harvest the bulbs when approximately half of the foliage has turned yellow, then cure them for several weeks in a dry, cool, and well-ventilated location.