by Janette Peel

Created on: March 10, 2009

The charm of this wondrous bulb makes Garlic an indispensable garden and kitchen herb.

Prized for its pungent flavor, Garlic is a multipurpose crop suitable for growing in all zones. The plant's bulbs, strap-like leaves and flower stalks are all edible. A single clove of garlic is enough to enhance the flavor of your cooking.

There are three types of Garlic available: Softneck, Topset and Elephant. Regardless of type, the intensity of bulb flavor is determined by the amount of sulphur in your soil.

Softneck Garlic bears 8-24 small cloves wrapped in a clean skin. Topset Garlic produces bulbs of 6-12 large cloves. Elephant Garlic is actually a bulbing Leek grown like Garlic. Elephant Garlic bulbs can weight up to 500 grams with 4-6 large cloves.

Garlic is usually planted in autumn and harvested the following summer, but can be planted in spring and harvested in autumn.

Softneck Garlic varieties include:

California Early which are a white-skinned bulb with a pungent strong flavor and aroma.
They are excellent for storage.

South Australian Whites store well and are large, easy-to-peel white-skinned bulbs with a pungent flavor.

German Extra Hardy store well and are white-skinned bulbs with dark red-skinned cloves with excellent flavor.

California Lates are excellent for storage and have white-skinned bulbs with a pungent, strong flavor and aroma.

Topset Garlic varieties include:

German White which are for autumn planting only and have large bulbs with pungent flavor.

New Zealand Purples produce purple-tinged bulbs which are plump and uniform in shape.
They are easy to peel and have a rich, mild flavor.

German Red have exceptional flavor and have purple-streaked bulbs with red-purple skin on large cloves.

Italian Purples are excellent for storage and produces purple-streaked bulbs with large, fat flavorful cloves.

New York Whites are a good type for braiding and have white-skinned bulbs with a purple blush with good flavor.

The Elephant variety has enormous 250 gram bulbs with a very mild flavor. You are best to cover them with 15-20cm of mulch before winter.

Garlic can help repel insects. Try planting it as a border around your garden to act as a general repellent, and so you can find it easily the next summer. Or, plant it between rows of Eggplants, Cabbage, Broccoli, Lettuce or Tomatoes.
Do not plant Garlic near Beans and Peas as it can inhibit their growth.

In Rose gardens, try planting Garlic between Rose bushes, Garlic helps repel pests such as aphids and Japanese beetles.

To plant

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