Australian Garlic
Celebrating and understanding our garlic groups and cultivars
Artichoke Group
Softneck - Non-bolting
This cultivar falls into the Artichoke Group, Type 2 and shares its evolution with others in this sub-group from Formosan to Taiwanese and Taiwanese Purple. Long time grower Roger Schmitke selected bulbs from this heritage that produced larger bulbs and cloves then other cultivars grown in the 80s and 90s. These went to Queensland’s Gatton Research Station and over a 6 year period they were grown and selected and replanted, selecting only the biggest and best bulbs and cloves. In 1997 Southern Glen named and released.  See the Production of Garlic here
This day-length neutral cultivar is a very important cultivar for growers in warmer more northern regions.
General Information
International name/s:
Flavour: Workhorse of Australian garlic with simple, direct, vegetative flavours, mild to hot. The best are more complex with longer lasting developing flavours. Roasted: Mild, sweet, earthy flavour, holds well. Sautéed: When sautéed until crisp has delicious mild garlic flavour.
Storage: Medium to long, 6-8 months. Most plait well because there is no scape. But those that form bulbils in the pseudostem cannot usually be plaited.
Growing location: Grows from southern Queensland to Tasmania on the east coast. And South Australia and Western Australia. Type 2 cultivars like Southern Glen, Glenlarge, Italian Pink and Italian Red are day-length neutral and do really well in Northern NSW, Southern Queensland and mid Western Australia.
Growing requirements: Widely adapted to a number of climates but does best in regions with hot, dry summers and low humidity. Type 2 does well in more humid regions.
Planting and harvest: Early to mid-season. Type 2 early.
Bulb
Shape: Large flattened or teardrop shaped. Some round and symmetrical, others lumpy and oblong and asymmetrical. Type 2 usually teardrop shaped.
Skin colour and texture: Thick, coarse, off white to pale mauve. Often with mauve blotches especially in colder climates. Type 2 some thinner, some with stripes.
Clove
Number and layout: Multiple clove layers, usually 3. 12-20 cloves.
Size and shape: Plump, squarish but irregular shape often 3 flattish sides, inner cloves taller and narrower. Some with two bigger cloves at either end.
Skin colour and texture: Off white to tan, sometimes pink blush to tip or base. A few have strong colours. Type 2 may be dark or pale pink all over. Hard to medium to peel.
Plant
Size and shape: Short, wide and spreading. Type 2 taller, narrow, floppy with thin pseudostem. May fall over when mature.
Leaves: Broad, mid to pale green, sometimes more yellow. 45° angle to stem. Fold in middle. Type 2 more narrow and bright green.
Young plants: Smaller version of adult plant, quick to get going. Type 2 slender fast growing and upright.
Matures: Early to mid-season. Type 2 early, sometime bending over near maturity
Scape: Not usually present.
Umbel and beak: Not usually present.
Bulbils and flowers: No flowers and usually no bulbils, but type 2 and some others will produce 1-3 bulbils in the pseudostem especially when stressed by cold or drought. Medium bulbils about 60mm, with red to purple skins. Planted bulbils will grow into small bulbs or medium rounds in the first year.
Artichoke Group
Silverskin Group
Subtropical Group
Asiatic Group
Creole Group
Middle Eastern Group
Turban Group
- Flinders Island Purple
- Glamour
- Italian Purple
- Monaro Purple
- Ontos Purple
- Shandong
- Tasmanian Purple
- White Crookneck
- Xian