Highly recommended. I have obtained variations of this type from 5 separate sources in the South (and North) Islands under different names. It appears to be widely grown in the South Island and is a strong growing, reliable, and heavy. May be grown early or late. Southern Purple Hardneck
Plant in April. A tasty, reliable, red stripy skinned hardneck from the Koanga collection originally from Henry Harrington s collection in Southland. Early Red Rambacole
Popular red-skinned (cloves) hardneck. Very hot! Originates from Spain, but widely grown amongst garlic fanatics worldwide. This is from a local Hamilton seller originally. I believe it came to NZ via Australia. Recommended. Ajaroja (Hardneck) (AKA Oja Roja or Spanish Red)
Italian Purple-Stripe Hardneck From Whangarei, Northland. Seller said it s an old variety originating in Italy. Solid, reliable hardneck, similar in appearance to Southern Purple.
Awesome old fashioned garlic. Good flavour and vigorous, dependable crops. Seed has been grown for over 30 years in Motueka and is now sold by Country Trading Co. from which I purchased my seed. Recommended. Spanish Red (Softneck)
Thames Golden (AKA Coromandel Giant) Organically grown seed from old commercial garlic stock. Original bulbs obtained were huge like elephant garlic. Recommended.
Old fashioned softneck found growing wild in an old garden in Southland and subsequently brought to Hawera where it has been grown for a number of years. Hawera Pink (Softneck)
Not garlic. Related to leeks. This variety is from Southland. Reliable cropper. Elephant Garlic
Old Dalmation soft neck found growing in sand dunes by Kay Baxter and subsequently grown and distributed by Koanga Gardens. A great stronggrowing softneck. Takahue (Softneck)
Beautiful softneck from Koanga and originally from Henry Harrington. Mine grows with a bluish tinge and very much resembles Takahue in some bulbs. Soft Top Pearl (Softneck)
White skinned cultivar grown commercially and sold commercially in Northland. Picked up in Matkohe. Planted late last season, so it performed poorly. Matakohe (Softneck)
Early White Rambacole (Hardneck) Similar to Early Red. From Koanga ex Henry Harrington s collection. Plant April.
Commercial variety. Reliable cropper. First year grown. New Zealand Purple
Californian Early (Softneck) Old Californian commercial variety. Originates from Gilroy, California and is widely grown and popular in the USA. This strain grows to a good size (don t let my small bulb fool you) and are tastier than other commercial types. Strong grower, reliable. This strain is grown by a local couple who are members of Tree Crops Association. They recommend planting (although I have grown in May before). Recommended.
Old European variety, according to seller. Not yet grown. Purple Stripe Softneck
Another great variety. This is grown commercially by Tree Hugger Garlic and looks to be an old fashioned type. Looks similar in colouring and growing habit to Spanish Red (softneck). I have obtained it from Tree Hugger and a private organic grower. Recommended. Waimate (Softneck)
Remove outer skin and break each bulb into individual cloves without baring the flesh Planting Garlic Keep soil moist and well weeded while plants mature (16-24 weeks) Plant in full sun in soil that is fertile and well drained Plant during the autumn months (March-April) In cool areas, plant the cloves up to 10 cm deep and in warm areas 4-5 cm deep Plant with the pointy end of the clove pointing up Space 10-12 cm between cloves Water well in dry conditions, but not if soil is heavy and cold (cloves will rot) Harvest when foliage turns brown and falls over Loosen soil around bulbs and pull them up by the leaves Leave to dry for several days in a warm, airy place Good air circulation is essential to prevent rotting For more information, read Get Fresh by Dennis Greville, available to borrow at the South Coast Environment Centre
Getting to Know Garlic Garlic (Allium Sativum) is closely related to onions, leeks, shallots, and chives There are two major subgroups of garlic: hardneck and softneck. Hardneck varieties are further divided into porcelain, rocambole, and purple stripe garlics Soft-neck varieties are further divided into artichoke, silverskin, and creole garlics These sub-varieties of garlic are further divided to give us over 600 different types of garlic The word garlic comes from the Old English word garleac meaning spear leek History Garlic has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes for over 7,000 years. Garlic is native to central Asia Particularly popular in the Mediterranean region, garlic was used as offerings for the gods and in other regions to ward off evil spirits Uses Culinary: Garlic can be sliced, chopped, or crushed and added to almost any dish as a seasoning or condiment. Raw garlic has a pungent, spicy flavour that significantly mellows when cooked. Medicinal: Garlic is a powerful broad-spectrum antibiotic that can help lower cholesterol and prevent heart disease. Other: Garlic can be planted in gardens to repel insects such as aphids and ants and can enhance the perfume of roses when planted nearby. Thanks Todd Saunders of Hamilton has donated cloves of sixteen different garlic varieties to Seed Savers to preserve and promote garlic diversity. Todd has left comments about each variety which are featured next to the pictures. Contact: Adopt a Clove: SeedSavers@sces.org.nz for details