Sold by the bulb. Purple stripe hardneck variety. Spicy flavour.
Planting: Plant in mid-September to October, at least 4 weeks before ground freezing. Break bulbs into individual cloves. Make sure bulbs cloves are hard and solid. Plant larger cloves as they will produce larger bulbs (use the smaller cloves for cooking!). Plant root plate end down, 3 inches deep, in well-drained soil. Add organic matter/manure or mulch on top. Raised beds are recommended, as soil should be well-draining. Spacing of at least 5 inches on 1-foot rows will provide adequate sunshine, and any extra spacing will allow bulbs to grow larger. Keep soil moist.
Growing & Harvesting: Harvest the flowers 10-14 days after they appear. This allows the plant to put its energy into the bulb, not into making seeds. Harvest the bulb once it has matured, and the leaves brown off. Dig from ground, and immediately brush off the soil from around the roots very gently.
Curing & Storing: Drying is an essential part of curing the bulbs, so do not wash them in water. Remove from direct sunlight, and leave under cover in a breezy area. Wtih stalks/leaves attached, tie in bundles, or spread on screens or drying racks. Two weeks drying time is ideal. To store, hang in netted sacks or bags. Store in a cool, dry, and well-ventilated area with a stable temperature of 15C.