Gourmet Garlic: Rocamboles

Reader Contribution by Andrea Cross
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In my last blog post (Gourmet Garlic: Hardneck vs. Softneck) I discussed the differences between hardneck and softneck garlics. In the next series of blogs, I will be exploring the various types of cultivars that fall under the auspices of these two categories. I will begin with the Rocamboles, a highly regarded type of hardneck. Rocamboles are considered by many growers and garlic enthusiasts to be the caviar of gourmet garlic due to their exceptional taste. Common examples that I grow include German Red, Yugoslavian, and the hugely popular Russian Red.

Cultivation

Rocamboles require a relatively lengthy period of vernalization for proper growth, making them better suited for growing in colder climates. If you are growing Rocamboles in a climate with more mild temperatures, you will need to put your cloves in an artificial state of cold dormancy in order to obtain optimum results. Although a hardy strain, they do also need a rich soil matrix to grow to their full potential. The plants themselves are robust, with thick stalks and up to nine deep blue-green colored leaves. The scapes are quite long, and often will tightly curl at least twice before they begin to straighten to their full height of approximately six feet. The umbels themselves contain bulbils of varying size and number depending on the cultivar, but they are generally medium to large in size, and vary from a few to many in number. Rocamboles are usually harvested mid-season, after all the softneck varieties are out of the ground.

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