Allium sativum 'Killarney Red'
vegetableKillarney Red is a high-yielding rocambole hardneck garlic with 7 to 9 large cloves per head and a well-balanced flavor: nutty and full-bodied raw, then smooth and sweetly earthy when cooked. The loosely-wrapped mahogany clove skins peel off easily, which is why many restaurant chefs prefer Killarney Red for quick kitchen prep.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 5 days
Harvest
~240 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
6 in in row, 12 in between rows
Planting Depth
2 in deep, point up
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Soil Type
Loose, rich
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3 – 8
Grown as an annual. This range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
Side-dress in early spring when shoots emerge through mulch
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 or fish emulsion at 1 cup per 10 ft of row
Plant in mid-autumn 3 to 6 weeks before the ground freezes. Set cloves 2 in deep, point up, 6 in apart in rows 12 in apart. Mulch heavily with straw. Killarney Red is a rocambole, so it produces curling scapes in early summer; cut them off and use in stir-fries to direct energy into bulbs. The variety tolerates wet conditions better than most hardnecks but has a shorter storage life of just 2 to 3 months.
Direct sow
Oct 15
Projected first harvest
Jun 12
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts. Tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Rotate alliums for 3 years; row cover at planting
Plant clean cloves; never replant in white-rot beds
Row cover from planting through mid-spring
Encourage pirate bugs and lacewings
Killarney Red is ready about 240 days from fall planting, in late spring to early summer. Lift gently with a fork when the lower 4 to 5 leaves are dry. Cure for 2 to 3 weeks in a warm, airy spot out of direct light, then trim roots and store at 50 to 60F. Use within 2 to 3 months for best flavor; the loose wrappers do not protect cloves as long as other hardnecks.
About 149 calories per 100 g raw with 2.1 g fiber, 31 mg vitamin C, 401 mg potassium, and high allicin. Rocambole varieties like Killarney Red are particularly rich in sulfur compounds that activate when cloves are crushed and rested for 10 minutes before cooking.
For educational and informational purposes only. HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.