Hardneck Garlic · Turban

Turban Garlic

Turban garlic is the earliest to harvest of anything we grow, a weakly bolting hardneck with vivid purple color and a hot, pungent bite. Fast to mature and hard to miss in the ground, it is a favorite of growers who want their first garlic of the year.

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Turban seed garlic we grow

Certified organic turban seed stock, grown in volcanic soil and reserved for fall planting.

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Why turban

What sets turban apart

First out of the ground

The earliest garlic we harvest each year, ready ahead of every other variety we grow.

Vivid purple color

Bright purple streaking on the papers and cloves, one of the most striking garlics in the field.

Hot and pungent

A sharp, fiery heat when raw that mellows into a rounder warmth once cooked.

Wide growing range

Comfortable across roughly zones 4 through 9, adaptable from cold gardens to milder ground.

Grow it right

Best climates for turban

Turban garlic grows well across a wide range, roughly USDA zones 4 through 9. As a weakly bolting hardneck it is adaptable and more forgiving than a true hardneck about winter chill, though a cool season still helps it size up.

The thing to plan for is how early it finishes. Turban can be ready weeks before the rest of your garlic, so mark it, watch it closely near harvest, and lift it promptly once the lower leaves start to brown.

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Questions

Turban garlic FAQ

What is turban garlic?
Turban is a subgroup of weakly bolting hardneck garlic known for very early maturity, vivid purple color, and a hot, pungent flavor. It produces a scape and is grown and sold as a hardneck.
Is turban a hardneck or a softneck?
Hardneck. Turban is a weakly bolting hardneck, so it sits a little closer to the softneck end of the spectrum than a porcelain, but it still forms a scape and behaves like a hardneck. We categorize and sell it as hardneck.
Which variety do you grow in the turban group?
Thai Purple is our turban variety. It is a premium, genuinely limited garlic. We grew it up from a single pound of seed a few years back and are still building stock, so it sells out fast.
What growing zones suit turban garlic?
Roughly USDA zones 4 through 9. Turban is adaptable across cold and milder gardens alike, though a cool winter still gives the best heads.
When should I order?
Pre-orders open in the spring and ship in September for fall planting. Because Thai Purple is limited in quantity, it tends to sell out early, so order as soon as you can.