Violet Garlic

We attended a (rather expensive we thought - at least we didn't have to pay the admission charges) Food Fair late last year, and I saw some 'Violet Garlic' for sale which looked extremely attractive, but also extremely expensive.

As I've never seen this stuff in the shops (or available as seed garlic) I googled it and found this old 2006 'Telegraph' article: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1532797/France-runs-out-of-gourmet-garlic.html It looked rather striking, and this image doesn't really do it justice:




I know it's supposed to be mild, but does it grow OK in the UK? Anybody tried growing (or even eating) it?

 

I haven't looked at the link, but the colouring looks the same as supermarket garlic that I planted last year.
The taste difference between what the supermarket sold and what grew, was quite amazing. The bought garlic was mild and dry, whilst the freshly grown garlic was very fiery and juicy. The gloves aren't massive, but the taste more than makes up for that.

 

It's supposed to sell for £1.50/bulb (2006 prices according to that link), is that the stuff you bought? The bulbs are really big, it's incredibly bright violet - it really stands out, and isn't supposed to be available in supermarkets (never seen it) only in specialist shops,

 

I'm really sorry, but can't even remember which supermarket that I bought them from. It might even had been in France.
Certainly the bulbs that grew from the original bulbs wearn't anywhere near as big as the ones that you have shown.

I'll try and take some photos tomorrow for you, and if it does look to be the same, I'd happily send you a couple of lifted plants/bulbs to try.

 

? all the garlic in our Morrisons, have violet purple colourings on the bottom and top of the bulbs, size about 2" dry and not very strong, as opposed to the pure white garlic in boxes of three bulbs, which is more expensive but very strong

Never thought of trying to grow garlic, as new to gardening I would not know where to start, I can not even get spring onions up I thought they were like raddish chuck them in and crop in four weeks, they have been in six months now and are like matchsticks (lisbon) grow over winter, or spring I thought the clue was in SPRING

Jack McH

 

Looks like we've got to get hold of just one of these Garlic Blubs then, we'll have the market cornered in 4 years.

Jack, spring onions are the non blubbing ones, they will produce an onion if they are left but the main quality is the long stem to use in salads. I sow White Lisbon in sucession thru most of the year

 

I like as Jack have noticed garlic with a purple tint to them often. Really did not think it unusual, it is normal to see them. They are in my market most of the time.

 

This isn't purple garlic nor anything you'd expect to see in a supermarket, but extremely expensive and splashed with vivid violet colouring. As it apparently comes from one small region of France, it makes me wonder whether the colouring is enhanced by their local soil type.

 

Planted 7" apart and worth £1.50/bulb that would be just over £100 per square metre. What (legal) crops give that sort of return.

 

Maybe I will try growing it, I got lots of room. Or tell my Amish friends about it.

 

I've located the sales outfit: