Australian Garlic
Celebrating and understanding our garlic groups and cultivars
Rose du Var
Softneck - Non-bolting
This cultivar falls into the Artichoke Group, Type 2 and shares its evolution with others in this sub-group from Formosan to Taiwanese and Taiwanese Purple. Long time grower Roger Schmitke selected bulbs from this heritage that produced larger bulbs and cloves then other cultivars grown in the 80s and 90s. These went to Queensland’s Gatton Research Station and over a 6 year period they were grown and selected and replanted, selecting only the biggest and best bulbs and cloves. In 1997 Southern Glen named and released.  See the Production of Garlic here
This day-length neutral cultivar is a very important cultivar for growers in warmer more northern regions.
General Information
International name/s: Rose du Var
Flavour: Hot and strong, not complex.
Storage: Very long. These garlic are also good for plaiting.
Growing location: Cultivars in this group grow best in New South Wales, Northern Victoria and South Australia. Western Australia.
Growing requirements: Grow best in climates with warm to hot summers and mild winters. Prefer low humidity.
Planting and harvest: Late planting and late harvest.
Bulb
Shape: Often a bit smaller than Artichoke cultivars. Usually tear-drop shaped with a flat base.
Skin colour and texture: Fine but strong white skins.
Clove
Number and layout: Usually 10-16 cloves in two layers, although bigger bulbs may have 3 layers.
Size and shape: Cloves have a flat, curved inner face and pointed tips. Inner cloves are taller and more slender.
Skin colour and texture: Cloves are tan at the base and pink at the top with darker pink stripes. Skins can be hard to peel.
Plant
Size and shape: Medium, slender plants sometimes with weakish necks. May be slow to develop and may lie over a week or more before harvest.
Leaves: Slender, blue green quite upright.
Young plants: Young plants are slow to germinate and develop.
Matures: Matures slowly, late to harvest.
Scape: None.
Umbel and beak: None.
Bulbils and flowers: None.
Artichoke Group
Silverskin Group
Subtropical Group
Asiatic Group
Creole Group
Middle Eastern Group
Turban Group
- Flinders Island Purple
- Glamour
- Italian Purple
- Monaro Purple
- Ontos Purple
- Shandong
- Tasmanian Purple
- White Crookneck
- Xian