Winter garlic "Bavarian Purple" 

Allium sativum var ophioscorodon subvar rocambole

     

Bavarian Purple is a hardneck garlic variety with a distinctly purple skin color and large, well-formed cloves. It belongs to the Purple Stripe type or a related group (in some catalogs – Marbled Purple Stripe). This variety is popular among amateur and professional gardeners because:

  • it has a very strong aroma and sharp taste,

  • large clove sizes, usually 5–8 cloves per head,

  • high winter hardiness,

  • excellent taste when cooked (especially when baked).

The variety's name indicates its origin – Bavaria (Germany), where this type of hardneck garlic has been cultivated for centuries.

History

Bavarian Purple traces its roots to southeastern Germany – Bavaria, where hardneck and “purple stripe” type garlic were grown as traditional cold-resistant crops.
Such garlic was known in Europe as early as the Middle Ages, especially in Alpine regions where winters were too cold for softneck garlic.

    1. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Bavarian garlic type populations spread to other parts of Europe.

    1. In the second half of the 20th century, agronomists in the USA and Canada selected and stabilized “Bavarian Purple” as a separate variety, based on European gene pools.

  • Today it is one of the best-known purple-skinned hardneck varieties, especially sought after by gardeners and gastronomes.

Description

Botanical type

  • Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon (hardneck).

  • Forms a flower stalk.

Heads and cloves

  • Head weight: 45–90 g (depending on growing conditions).

  • Color: white skin with distinct purple stripes and spots.

  • Shape: slightly flat or round, symmetrical.

  • Number of cloves: 5–8 large cloves, easy to peel.

  • Clove color: light creamy, with a slight pinkish hue.

Taste and aroma

  • Very sharp, rich, persistent aroma.

  • When baked, the taste becomes sweet and deep.

  • Very popular in restaurants and amateur gastronomy.

Cultivation and growing requirements

  • Very suitable for cold and temperate climates (winter hardy).

  • Plant in late autumn, harvest in mid-July.

  • Requires moderately fertile, well-drained soil.

  • Vegetation period: ~240 days.

Disease and pest resistance

  • Good resistance to gray rot and fungal infections.

  • Moderate risk of nematodes if crop rotation is not observed.

Storage

  • Bavarian Purple keeps for 5–6 months if stored in a cool, dry place.