Czech Broadleaf Hardneck Purple Stripe Garlic - Sustainably Grown

bulbs
Allium sativum

Czech out this niche garlic.

Distinct for its very vigorous growth habit with noticeably more leaves than other hardnecks. This spicy easy-to-peel garlic has 6–10 large cloves per head. The lovely outer wrappers are purple striped and the inner papers around the cloves are light brown. There”s some debate about the classification of this variety online, but it is most certainly a hardneck variety, not softneck. Some speculation exists about whether the genetics of this variety reflect true Purple Stripe origins, or whether it belongs in the emerging “unclassified” class of garlic.

Hardneck variety. Hardy in zones Z3–8. BACK!

Items from our perennial plants warehouse will ship around September 30 through October. Bulbs can be planted successfully up until your ground freezes.

Note to Alaska and far north customers: We cannot guarantee an early shipment, so please plan accordingly and order early.

We cannot accommodate specific ship date requests or guarantee your order will arrive by a certain day.
ships in fall
ECOThis item is sustainably grown

6240 Czech Broadleaf - Sustainably Grown

A: 0.5 lb
$16.50
B: 2 lb
$58.00

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Additional Information

Purple Stripe Garlic

The closest to the wild garlic ancestors, this hardneck variety hails from the harsh climate of central Asia. Genetic research shows the Purple Stripe group is the basis of all other types.

Tightly wrapped cloves with long tips. The wrappers are striped in purple. Cloves (8–12 per bulb) usually form a single layer around the hard center stalk, though very large bulbs may have inner cloves. Superb for roasting. Can store well into winter, a bit longer than Rocamboles.

May emerge slightly earlier in spring than other types. Scapes coil vigorously; small bulbils. 40–65 cloves per pound. Zone 3–8.

Hardneck vs. Softneck

Hardneck garlic has a hard stalk in the center of the bulb, and (the vast majority of the time) only one ring of cloves. Plant grows an edible scape, a tall leafless stalk with a flower-like top. Tops are too rigid to braid but can be tied in attractive bundles and hung.

For best bulb size, cut off the scape before it uncurls. One of our favorite midsummer tasks is clipping the scapes and enjoying them grilled, stir-fried, pickled, or in pesto! If you leave the tops on, the below-ground bulb will likely be smaller, but you’ll get a membrane full of little bulbils, which you can plant if so inspired.

Hardnecks are closer to wild garlic, garlic and varieties present a range of characteristics and complex flavor profiles. Very cold hardy.

Softneck garlic (which we’ve offered in the past) produces multiple rings of cloves and a soft braidable top. Softneck types have mostly lost the ability to produce a stalk with flowering parts—but sometimes they bolt and produce extra “cloves” in the stem. Growers like softneck varieties for their extra-long shelf life in cold storage.

Seed Garlic

The bulb size, the skin color, the flavor, and the size and number of cloves are partly determined by genetics, and partly by soil and weather. We base our variety descriptions on reports from farmers, our garlic suppliers and our own experiences; your harvests may differ slightly.

Our size standard for a seed garlic bulb is 2" diameter, but we reserve the right to ship smaller garlic in difficult crop years. Fedco requires every lot of garlic to test negative for both garlic bloat nematode and white rot.

All our garlic is hardy Zones 3-8. See the USDA Hardiness Zone map for more information.