Allotments 4 All

That time of year is getting close again. I haven't grown garlic for years and when I did it was grocery-bought cloves. Now I have an allotment I intend to try again but I need some recommendations. There are so many varieties now. I already have Elephant garlic on order but would like 2 or 3 more varieties, ideally fairly different from each other to try out. I have a light soil but compost and fertility is not a problem. I'd like some that are good eaten fresh and others that store well.
What do the experienced garlic growers suggest?

If you want to store the garlic then buy soft neck cos it keeps longer.(Just summat I found out on here amongst the million other things)

Marco is always a good standby for me ...

I grow Albignesian Wright,it is a soft neck and I get a decent crop every year.

I grew Sprint for the first time this year (I was sent it as a substitute for what I ordered) and was impressed - largest bulbs of any variety I have grown.

I grow a mixture of hard and soft necks as they keep for different periods, ripen at different times etc. Purple Wight is a constant, Jolimont is good, the others are what are on offer!

Thanks for the advice, it gives me some pointers to start trying out varieties for flavour. I guess the hard necked ones are best for young fresh garlic plus I gather you can eat the young stalks.

Lautrec is a lovely mauvish hardneck and Solent Wight excellent soft neck for keeping (ate last 2011 bulb in about June 2012).

Grew Marco this year for the first time and I was very impressed .

Also a big fan of Marco, kept and resown my own for the past two years, great results.

Quote from: Deb P on August 25, 2012, 10:10:17
Also a big fan of Marco, kept and resown my own for the past two years, great results.


Ive never tried re sowing my own cloves so this time I shall give it a go , thanks for the idea.