Just a quick note here. I like to grow the hardneck because of the size (and I mean size!!! huge) of the cloves. I use lots of garlic, all the time and can't be bothered with the smaller cloves. I have mountains of bubils from my garlic that went to seed this year. I am going to spread it to the wind and let nature take its course and also feed it to my chickenyard critters. I recall somewhere that it prevents some kind of parasite from attacking the innards of these guys. I have garlic that grows wild here, all over the place, so I have mountains of garlic to harvest anytime that I choose, kind of a nice thing, and garlic greens anytime I choose too.
The softneck has its place. Yes, for surely, it is a treat for the tastebud too.
I originally got my cultivar of garlic from a place on Saltspring Island. They have lots of varieties, but are probably sold out by now too. Check out their site. I think it is just plain and simply "SaltspringIslandSeeds.com" or something like that. Googgle, Saltspring Island and it probably would come up some site or something. It is a Canadian place, so there would be cross border stuff, but I don't think there are any restrictions on cross border with garlic and such. Beautiful day in this great life we all live, love and share. Cindi