Red Russian Garlic (Allium sativum)

🧄 Red Russian Garlic (Allium sativum)

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🌿 Description

Red Russian garlic is a hardneck garlic variety renowned for its hardiness, productivity, and rich, well-balanced flavor.

Its bulbs are medium to large, with skins lightly tinged with red or pale purple. Each bulb generally produces 6 to 10 well-formed cloves, making it easy and convenient to prepare in the kitchen.

Its flavor is complex: fairly strong when eaten raw, but becoming mild, rich, and slightly sweet when cooked. It is a highly versatile variety, equally well suited to everyday cooking and more elaborate dishes.

The product is offered in the form of bulbils, allowing growers to gradually establish a productive and sustainable garlic crop.

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🌍 Origin & Adaptation

Red Russian garlic is a cultivar originating from Eastern Europe, selected for its exceptional resistance to cold climates.

It is particularly well adapted to northern regions such as Quebec thanks to:

• its excellent cold hardiness
• its tolerance to harsh winters
• its ability to produce successfully during short growing seasons

It is a reliable variety and an excellent choice for gardeners in cold climates.

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🌱 Germination / Planting

Adapted to Quebec’s Climate

Grown from bulbils.

Planting Period

• Fall — ideal
• Or spring

Method

• Planting depth: 3–5 cm
• Spacing: 5–10 cm
• Row spacing: 30–45 cm

⚠️ When grown from bulbils, full-sized bulbs are generally harvested beginning in the second year.

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🌿 Care

• Exposure: Full sun
• Soil: Rich, loose, and well-drained
• Watering: Moderate and regular
• Growing cycle: 1–2 years

Removing the flower stalks, or scapes, helps encourage the development of larger bulbs.

Enriching the soil with compost can also help improve overall yields.

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🍽️ Culinary Uses

Red Russian is an excellent everyday garlic with a beautiful depth of flavor.

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🧄 1️⃣ Roasted Red Russian Garlic

Ingredients

• 1 garlic bulb
• Olive oil
• Salt

Preparation

Cut the top off the bulb, drizzle with olive oil, and roast at 180°C (350°F) for 40–50 minutes.

Result:
A soft, melt-in-your-mouth texture with a mild and slightly sweet flavor.

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🧄 2️⃣ Red Russian Garlic Sauté

Ingredients

• 3–5 garlic cloves
• Vegetables or meat
• Oil

Preparation

Gently sauté the garlic before adding the other ingredients.

Result:
A rich, balanced flavor without excessive bitterness.

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🧄 3️⃣ Garlic Confit

Ingredients

• Garlic cloves
• Olive oil

Preparation

Cook over very low heat for 30–40 minutes.

Result:
Tender, flavorful cloves perfect for spreading or incorporating into recipes.

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🧄 4️⃣ Red Russian Garlic Pesto

Ingredients

• Basil
• Garlic
• Olive oil
• Cheese

Preparation

Blend all ingredients together until the desired consistency is reached.

Result:
A flavorful pesto with a pleasant and distinctive garlic intensity.

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⭐ Special Characteristics

• Very cold-hardy variety
• Good productivity
• Balanced and versatile flavor
• Well adapted to cold climates
• Ideal for growing from bulbils

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⚠️ Frost Tolerance

Excellent cold tolerance.

Perfect for fall planting in Quebec.

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✅ Quick Facts

• Type: Hardneck garlic
• Product sold: Bulbils
• Cloves: 6–10 per bulb
• Flavor: Rich, balanced, slightly sweet when cooked
• Growing cycle: 1–2 years
• Exposure: Full sun
• Frost tolerance: Excellent
• Key benefits: Cold-hardy, productive, versatile, ideal for northern climates