Music Garlic: Flavor, Growing Guide and Seed
, by Earthwise Garlic, 3 min reading time
Music garlic is the most widely grown hardneck variety in North America. Learn about its flavor, how to grow it, and where to buy Music garlic seed.
Music garlic is the most widely grown hardneck variety in North America, and if you ask serious garlic growers which single variety they would plant if they could only choose one, the answer is almost always Music.
Music produces large, beautifully formed bulbs with 4 to 6 fat cloves that peel easily, cook beautifully, and deliver a rich, full-bodied flavor that outperforms anything you'll find at a grocery store.
What Is Music Garlic?
Music is a porcelain hardneck garlic — one of the most cold-hardy types you can grow. The porcelain group produces fewer, larger cloves per bulb (typically 4 to 6) with thick, protective outer skins that make them excellent storers.
Music garlic was introduced to North America from Italy in the 1980s by Al Music, a Canadian farmer in Ontario. His name stuck to the variety, and now it's grown on farms from British Columbia to Georgia.
Music Garlic Flavor Profile
Rich, savory, and full-bodied with a gentle heat that builds slowly and never turns sharp. Raw, the heat is medium — present and noticeable but never harsh. Cooked, it mellows and sweetens into something almost buttery. Roasted whole in olive oil, Music produces a soft, golden, spreadable paste with a depth of flavor that works just as well spread on bread as stirred into a sauce.
Culinary Uses
- Roasted whole: the large cloves caramelize evenly and the flavor deepens into something nutty and sweet.
- Sauteed: as the base for pasta, soups, and sauces. It releases flavor quickly and evenly without burning.
- Raw: in vinaigrettes, aioli, and dips. The heat is noticeable but not aggressive.
How to Grow Music Garlic
When to Plant
Plant in fall, October through November in most of the U.S. In the Pacific Northwest (zones 7 to 8), late October to mid-November is the sweet spot. You want cloves in the ground after your first frost so they don't sprout prematurely, but with enough time to establish roots before the ground freezes solid.
Planting Depth and Spacing
Plant cloves 2 to 3 inches deep, pointed end up, spaced 6 inches apart in rows 12 inches apart. Immediately after planting, apply 3 to 4 inches of straw mulch to insulate through winter and suppress weeds in spring.
Scape Removal
In late spring, Music sends up a scape — a curling green flower stalk. Cut it when it completes its first full curl. This redirects the plant's energy from seed production to bulb growth and measurably increases your yield. The scapes are also delicious — saute them in butter, chop them into scrambled eggs, or blend into scape pesto.
Harvest Timing
Music is typically ready in July in most U.S. growing regions. The signal to harvest: the lower 3 to 4 leaves have dried and browned while the upper leaves are still green. Loosen the soil with a fork rather than pulling by the stem.
Curing and Storage
Hang or lay bulbs in a warm, dry, well-ventilated spot out of direct sun for 3 to 4 weeks. Once the necks are completely dry and papery, trim the roots, cut the stem to about an inch, and move to long-term storage.
Properly cured Music garlic stores 4 to 6 months in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. Keep it out of the refrigerator: cold and moisture cause cloves to sprout prematurely.
Where to Buy Music Garlic Seed
We grow Music garlic naturally on our farm in Coburg, Oregon's Willamette Valley, and select the best bulbs from each harvest as the following season's seed stock. Music seed garlic ships nationwide in September for fall planting. Orders over $60 ship free.
Not sure if Music is the right variety for you? Read our complete variety comparison guide to see how all six of our varieties stack up.