An absolute must-have in the vegetable garden, Purple Garlic, a hardneck, creole type, is grown as a bulb vegetable. This variety produces approximately 8 to 12 cloves per bulb. The small heads have edible papery, purple-splashed wrappers covering large, firm, well-shaped cream-colored cloves with a strong, complex, spicy flavor. This purple stripe garlic is sold in a 1/2-pound bag containing at least 2 to 3 bulbs.
Usually grown as an annual, this bulbous perennial plant is a member of the onion (allium) family. Purple Garlic grows vigorously as aromatic, linear, flattened, grass-like leaves and forms a long, slender scape that eventually curls into a spiral. In early summer, cut or snap off the scape to increase bulb size. Scapes are edible and have a mild garlicky flavor. The plant has a midsummer harvest and a long storage life.
A cool-season, winter-hardy vegetable, the toughest of the cool-season crops, Purple Garlic is best planted in fall at least 3 weeks before the soil is frozen and overwintered. It needs cold temperatures to germinate and grow. Purple Garlic requires at least 6 hours of full sun a day and prefers loose, organically rich, medium moisture, well-drained soils. When lower leaves bend or dry out, the garlic is ready to harvest. Let soil dry out once this is observed. When more than half the leaves are dried, dig around plants, loosening the soil beneath the bulbs, and gently lift them out of the ground. Trim roots and braid leaves together or remove them. Brush off the soil and dry bulbs for 2 to 3 weeks. Once the outer skin turns papery, bulbs can be stored in a cool place with good air flow. The Purple Garlic bulbs keep well for up to 10 months when stored in the refrigerator or hanging in a cool, dark location. Check them frequently and note any presence of mold. If you see any, remove the outer layers of the garlic and use it immediately.
Extremely easy to grow, Purple Garlic is bothered by few diseases and pests. In fact, it acts as a natural, non-toxic pesticide, deterring aphids, Japanese beetles, spider mites, and many more and controlling pests, like slugs, snails, moles, and voles, among others, making it a great companion plant for perennials. It is also looked upon with disdain by deer and rabbits. However, garlic does not do well under weed pressure, so keep weeds under control. Mulching helps control weeds and protect the plants over winter.
