I realize I'm chiming in on this topic late but...there are definately many different tastes in garlic and different kinds that are good for different uses, like raw, cooked, powdered, storage, etc... I just spent the last summer studying garlic, how to grow it, medicinal qualities, types, and I am amazed at garlic! We planted a few hundred heads and are looking forward to our crop next year. Did you know that about 75% of the garlic in the US now comes from China?!?!? We are their biggest customer. Chinese garlic is known as "elephant garlic" or "white garlic" or "common garlic". One would never realize it but it's used in many many spices and flavorings in processed and restaurant food. The growing conditions of Chinese garlic are supposed to be up to US standards but in reality unknown, however the US requires it to be irradiated to be imported to the US. This is supposed to kill bacteria and other pathogens which is laughable because garlic is by it's very nature has antibiotic like qualities. Garlic is an interesting thing because it's actually (for lack of a better word) alive. When you crush it and let it sit for about 15 minutes the enzymes mix and it becomes (again for lack of a better word) activated or more potent. It's these properties that give it taste and health qualities. Irradiation kills these properties of the garlic leaving it dead and lacking health benefits. Irradiated garlic will not grow or will grow poorly. Currently there are no hybrid garlics or genetically modified garlics but big business is busy trying to accomplish this. I'm sure you could guess who. They are having trouble because of the "alive" property I mentioned earlier. Garlic is used in huge amounts in the US, mostly in the commercial spice industry where they use it in processed foods and restaurant food. We eat lots of tasty things that we'd never guess has garlic in it. The Chinese have killed US garlic growers because they just cannot compete. The numbers have dwindled and dwindled for decades. It's a very labor intensive crop and in the garlic industry US companies pay fair wages, overtime, provide insurance, workman's comp, pay government taxes, etc... whereas in China they pay don't pay these things not to mention the long hours and pitiful low wages they pay their laborers. Even with the expense of irradiation and shipping it halfway around the globe it's far cheaper than what the US can produce. I am just one person but I make sure I buy US garlic for this reason. Anyway, it's great that you'll try to plant some common garlic, and I hope you will consider some other varieties too. There's a big garlic world out there and many to choose from. Crushing(not cutting/slicing/mincing)and waiting about 10 - 15 minutes brings out a full flavor and "power". If you don't like the smell of garlic on your fingers from prep, just rub them on a steel surface under water until the smell goes away. Works with onions too. As far as medicinal uses, non irradiated garlic is currently being used all over the world to sucessfully ward off H1N1, the common cold, other bacterial and viral infections, heal cuts and wounds, treat stuffy sinuses, to treat cancer, as an anti fungal, I could go on and on. I'm certainly not saying it's a cure all, I'm not recommending it for any specific use, I'm saying it's a very interesting plant with an unusual way of attacking foreign invaders in the body and that there are some folks that claim to have success with it. I've read many of the garlic bulb sites on the web and spoken with many of the companies. By far my favorite is Gourmet Garlic Gardens, I've added the link below if you're interested. They have fabulous varieties to choose from and will gladly help you if you have any questions on what variety is best for your needs and area. There's a lot to read on this site! There are many other bulb sources who are great out there as well, this just happens to be my favorite. G.O. Here is a link that might be useful: Gourmet Garlic Gardens

Here's a site that carries them, too. **** Anney, I'm not so sure I'd buy Big Zac Seeds from Reimers. Right after Minnie Z entered into an exclusive contrat with the old TT when Wayne Hilton owned it, the seeds sold by TT were not right and they gave instructiuons for rouging out plants which one doesn't need to do b'c no offtypes should appear if they were really F1 seeds. There were lots of questions and Minnie was invoted here to GW to discuss it and she said there were problems with the parents or the seed production, I can't remember which. And at the same time Reimers started offering seed. Since it was an exclusive contract between Minnie Z and TT , and still is even with the transfer to Jung's, many folks thought that even tho Reimers said they were offering F1 seeds that what they really were offering was an OP version. Of course it's possible that Reimer's bought up lots of seed packs, b'c I don't think any bulk seed was ever sold by the former TT, but I doubt it b'c they've been offering that seed since Big Zac was introduced at the former TT. If it were me and I wanted reliable F1 Big Zac seed I think I'd stay with the current TT as run by Jung's. Just my opinion. Carolyn

Trudi, the bad thing is that I don't have any "well stocked" nurseries near me! I may end up trying more than one variety at the beginning. But, I want to end up with only one. It's only me and my wife. And, I can't see growing a bunch more than we will use. I know I could can them. But, I already have full size tomatoes that I use for canning. I know there is a plethora of online seed cats with cherry tomatoes. But, I don't trust their descriptions near as much as I trust the opinions of members here! ;>) Hoosier, as far as what I'm looking for, you nailed it... right between the eyes!!! I thank you for the Gardener's Delight name and for the T&M source! The description sounds like what my grandmother grew. And, your approval has sealed the deal! I'll definitely be placing an order for them on Monday!!! ;>) Thank you again for your help!!

They are definitely a hybrid. So you need original seeds to grow the real deal. I am not interested in growing saved seeds either. I intend to grow them next year since I like big toms. I bought an extra pack of seeds. If anyone wants a pack give me an email. I am frustrated with the seed vendor since they never have seeds in stock. So I finally got some a week ago. this way I will have them all set to go. My advice is not to wait on these seeds. If you want them then just get some and be ready. I have planted tom seeds 15 years old with almost 100% germination. bye the way. if you do email me be patient. I do not check my email very often. But I will get there.