Montana Giant Garlic

I’m always excited to discover a new garlic variety, and today I have something special to share with you!

Meet Montana Giant Garlic. This is a brand-new variety for me to grow, and if its name is any indication, we could be in for some impressive garlic!

Montana Giant is a hardneck porcelain garlic known for its large cloves, robust plants, and potential to produce some seriously impressive bulbs.

But how will it perform in my own garden? That’s what I’m hoping to find out!

Today, we’re taking a closer look at this variety, what makes it interesting, and why I’m excited to add it to my garlic- growing adventure.

This variety belongs to the porcelain group of hardneck garlic. Porcelain garlics are known for their relatively large cloves, and Montana Giant is described as producing just four to six large cloves per bulb.

Even though you’ll have fewer garlic cloves to enjoy overall. It means each individual clove can be substantial!  I especially like garlic varieties with large cloves because they are convenient to peel and prepare in the kitchen.  Montana Giant is described as robust and very hardy, with a reputation for producing some of the largest bulbs and plants in the garlic field.  Of course, those are the characteristics I’m hoping to see for myself as I grow it.  And that’s the main reason I wanted to try Montana Giant, is its reputation for size.  Who wouldn’t be curious about growing giant garlic bulbs?  This variety is known for producing impressive bulbs and vigorous plants, making it potentially appealing for gardeners who enjoy growing large garlic.

It’s also described as having good disease resistance. 

I’m looking forward to seeing how these bulbs establish themselves, how the plants grow, and. what kind of harvest I get.  This is one of the fun things about gardening: even when you have experience growing a crop, every new variety gives you something else to learn.

Of course, big bulbs are exciting, but garlic isn’t just about size. We also want it to taste good!  Montana Giant is described as having a full, robust garlic flavor with a little spice, without being too overpowering.  Other people say it is mild and earthy with gentle warmth.  Its flavor is often compared with Music garlic, another well- known variety.  The large, easy-to-peel cloves are also said to work especially well in raw dishes, where garlic flavor can really stand out.  I’m already thinking about how I might use this garlic once it’s ready to harvest.

Like other hardneck garlic varieties, Montana Giant is generally suited to fall planting in climates with a winter dormancy period. I’m in zone 6, and my favorite time to plant garlic is October.  I have planted it earlier and later with great success though.  For me, October gives the bulbs time to get established and the weather is usually pleasant for planting.  Garlic likes a sunny location with well-drained soil so keep that in mind as you’re planting.  Also, be sure to give the plants enough room to develop.  You will need enough room to space them about 6 inches apart.

When preparing the cloves, I separate them carefully shortly before planting and keep the protective skins intact. I’ve started soaking them before planting in fertilizer water to give them a head start. My favorite fertilizer water is the water from my duck trough, but there are many alternatives to use. 

It is important to plant each clove with its pointed end facing upward, and about 2-4 inches deep. And again remember, garlic doesn’t like to be crowded so I space mine about 6” apart.

After planting, keep an eye on moisture and weeds. Weeds are one of the biggest garlic problems.  To keep the cloves from drying out, and to keep weeds at bay, mulching important.  Garlic is strong enough to push up through most mulch, while most weeds are not.  My favorite mulch is pine needle mulch. 

Another important consideration when choosing garlic is how long it keeps after harvest.  Montana Giant is said to last until early spring.  That makes it to be a longer storing garlic.  That’s useful to know because storage life can make a difference in how we plan to use our harvest throughout the year.  I’ll be interested to see how long my own Montana Giant garlic lasts and how well it maintains its quality.

You can read descriptions and look at pictures, but there’s nothing quite like growing a variety yourself and seeing what it does in your own garden.

Have you ever grown Montana Giant garlic? If you have, I’d love to hear how it performed for you!  How big were your bulbs, how many cloves did you get, and what did you think of the flavor?

And if you’ve never grown it before, follow along with me as I take this new variety from planting to harvest and eventually into the kitchen.

If you enjoy learning about garlic varieties, growing your own garlic, and discovering new ways to use it, subscribe to From Clove to Kitchen.

From a clove to the kitchen, there’s always something new to discover!