Pre-order of organic Quebec-grown garlic as of June 1st.
Ordering early, you are sure to receive the desired size, quantity and variety.
STOCK UP FOR THE YEAR
Our garlic stores extremely well! Order your ORGANIC Quebec-grown garlic now!
COOK WITH QUEBEC-GROWN GARLIC
varieties and groups of garlic in quebec
Porcelain Group
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Strong and spicy garlic
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Larger, fewer cloves (2 to 6 per bulb)
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Excellent storage (8 to 12 months)
The Porcelain group, particularly its Music cultivar, is the most widely planted group in Quebec.
We chose the Music cultivar 30 years ago for its strong, juicy and spicy cloves, its excellent resistance to cold and its commercial potential.
Mr. Al Music imported this variety from Italy to Ontario and gave it his name.
*We noticed that the weather can change the colour of the skin on some varieties. Indeed, some years, the skin of garlic Music is white, while other years, it is purple or even a little yellow.
Order a supply of Music garlic or Music garlic seeds from our online store.
Glazed purple stripe group
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Rich and mild garlic
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About 10 cloves per bulb, somewhat flattened in shape*
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Silvery or golden-glazed skin*
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Medium storage (6 to 8 months)
The Glazed Purple Stripe group was at one time considered to be a cultivar of the Purple Stripe group, but today it is regarded as its own group.
We got this garlic from a market gardener in 2012. While we did not know its cultivar at the time, we look forward to learning more about it in the coming years!
*Our Glazed Purple Stripe garlic surprised us this year, it skin became all white, despite the word purple in its name!
We noticed that the weather can change the colour of the skin on some varieties. Indeed, some years, the skin of garlic Music is white, while other years, it is purple or even a little yellow.
What is the difference between a garlic variety, group and cultivar?
For thousands of years, garlic has been passed on from producer to producer and from region to region. Its physical attributes are largely determined by the environment in which it is cultivated (soil type, humidity, latitude, altitude, farming practice).
This has created over a thousand cultivars, called cultivated varieties or horticultural varieties. Some of these varieties are named after their place of origin, the name of the person who cultivated them, their appearance, etc. Therefore, some cultivars can be genetically identical but have different commercial names.
In Quebec, garlic is often simply identified by its source: “from Quebec,” “from Spain,” “from China.” In public markets, you can find many names: “Music,” “hard stem garlic,” “violet garlic,” “hardneck garlic,” “Porcelain garlic,” “elephant garlic,” etc. Unfortunately, there is no seed certification agency in Quebec, nor in the rest of Canada. But what do the various names stores use for garlic indicate?
Horticultural Groups
It is scientifically accepted that cultivated garlic (Allium sativum) is divided into eleven horticultural groups that are genetically different, distributed between hardneck varieties (with a stiff stalk that produces a scape) and softneck varieties (with a soft stalk that does not produce a scape).
Each variety of the same horticultural group has the same unique and visible traits.
Knowing the horticultural group of the garlic we grow or eat helps us learn about its planting and cultivation, its taste, appearance, shelf life, and so on.
The morphological differences between groups are more pronounced than between different cultivars of the same group. Therefore, it is easier to identify the garlic’s group than its variety (cultivarGrown on our farm in the Eastern Townships, our certified organic garlic is ideal for planting.
HORTICULTURAL GROUPs
Hardneck varieties with scapes
At present, hardneck varieties are divided into eight horticultural groups.
Purple Stripe Group
Marbled Purple Stripe Group
Rocambole Group
Creole Group
Turban Group
Asiatic Group
Softneck VARIETIES WITHout SCAPES
Artichoke Group
Silverskin Group
Middle Eastern Group
Discover varieties and groups of garlic in quebec
Please visit the following websites to learn more about horticultural groups and their different characteristics.
What do the various names stores use for garlic indicate?
Garlic from Quebec
Garlic from china
Garlic from Spain
Indicates the source, but provides no other garlic attributes.
Hard stem garlic
Hardneck garlic
Fall/Autumn garlic
Hard stem garlic, hardneck garlic: Indicates hardneck varieties that could belong to one of the eight horticultural groups mentioned above.
Fall/Autumn garlic: Varieties that has to be plant in Autumn.
Porcelain garlic
Music garlic
Elephant garlic
Porcelain garlic: Horticultural group
Music garlic: Popular cultivar belonging to the Porcelain horticultural group
Elephant garlic: This plant is not a variety of Allium sativum (cultivated garlic), but actually a cousin of the garden leek. It does not have the strong flavour or the medicinal properties of traditional garlic.
White garlic
Pink garlic
violet garlic
In France, the Lomagne white garlic and the Lautrec pink garlic are protected geographical indications (PGI).
The Cadours violet garlic received its protected designation of origin (PDO) in 2015.
For Quebec-grown garlic, these names do not designate any particular group.
KEEP YOUR QUEBEC-GROWN GARLIC FOR LONGER
Why should our garlic be kept at room temperature (20°C or over)?
Music garlic and Glazed Purple Stripe garlic are autumn varieties, which means that they are sown in the fall. Their roots form during this period until the beginning of winter when the garlic goes dormant. These varieties need this dormancy period so that they can sprout in the spring. As soon as the soil thaws, the garlic sprouts, breaks ground and grows until harvest time (in late July or early August).
Storing garlic at a temperature above 20°C prevents it from going dormant and stops its biological clock. The germ will grow very slowly inside the clove. Therefore, the germ won’t come out for several months and often not at all. This makes the garlic keep a long time, even until the next harvest in the case of the Music variety. If you find that the germ, which is edible, grows too big during the season, you can remove it before cooking. After all, this part of the garlic is more difficult to digest.
Why shouldn’t garlic be kept in the cold?
If autumn garlic is kept in the cold, then brought back to room temperature, it will react as it does in the spring and germinate very quickly.
If autumn garlic is stored continuously in the cold, it will react as though the fall is lasting and grow roots. The roots will pierce the protective skin of the bulb and the garlic will dry out prematurely.
So our Music garlic will keep until the spring and maybe even the next harvest when stored at room temperature (20°C or over).
The Glazed Purple Stripe garlic, on the other hand, does not keep as long (only 6 to 8 months). We recommend that you consume it first.
Store your Quebec garlic in the cupboard or keep it handy and ready to use on the kitchen counter. Watch out for cold drafts in the walls or cupboards, since they can harm its conservation.
6 excellent reasons for getting a supply of our Quebec-grown organic garlic
1) Stop throwing garlic out: Music variety garlic keeps up to 1 year after harvest
Not all varieties of Quebec-grown garlic keep equally well. With time, we have concluded that the Music variety is superior and keeps exceptionally well.
To maximize the conservation of Music garlic, it should be kept at a temperature above 20°C (see why). Store it in the cupboard or keep it on hand and ready to use on the kitchen counter!
2) Discover a variety of flavours, shapes and colours. Garlic varieties are like apples: there is one for every taste!
We have been growing Music garlic for 30 years. This variety is characterized by its spicy taste and its four to seven large cloves.
In 2016, we also introduced Glazed Purple Stripe garlic. This variety is characterized by its milder, rich taste, its pink, silvery- or golden-glazed skin, and its dozen purple to bronze cloves.
There are over 1 000 garlic varieties in the world. Learn more about some garlic varieties!
3) Save
A family of four consumes approximately 2 kilos of garlic per year. When we compare the average price of our garlic sold in stores with the price per kilogram from our online store, we can say that for an order of 2 kilos or more (from our online store) you save approximately 15% and this includes the shipping costs of $23. Save up to 40% of the store price by pooling your orders with friends and family, since delivery is free for orders over $200.
We deliver everywhere in Quebec right to your house!
4) Be the envy of others: It’s very difficult to find Quebec-grown garlic in winter
Quebec-grown garlic accounts for approximately 8% of garlic consumed by Quebecers. Therefore, we consume much more garlic than we produce. In the fall, grocery stores and public markets abound with Quebec-grown garlic. However, as time passes, it is increasingly hard to find.
With your supply of garlic, you will be among those lucky to have Quebec-grown garlic year-round!
5) Be environmentally friendly: Quebec-grown garlic travels at least 10 000 km less than garlic from China.
Our garlic, grown in the Eastern Townships, travels approximately 200 kilometres to reach supermarkets in the Montreal area. Garlic grown in China crosses the ocean and travels at least 11 000 kilometres to reach Montreal. Get your supply and save your garlic 10 000 kilometres of travel!
6) Put yourself in good hands: Le Petit Mas has over 30 years of experience as garlic producers
By purchasing your garlic from an experienced farmer, the garlic will be guaranteed optimal drying and storage conditions before arriving to your residence. Therefore, you will be purchasing high quality garlic that keeps extremely well.
7) Support the community
By purchasing our garlic, you help keep our community alive and help our families live in the Eastern Townships. You also help us do what we love to do: provide jobs in small communities and keep our townships alive.
A huge thank you.