Garlic is increasing in popularity in the UK and a wide selection of varieties are now available. They grow well under glass or polytunnel but also produce worthwhile crops in most sunny gardens and allotments.

Top Ten Varieties for the UK

1. Solent Wight – a heavy cropper with large cloves
2. Albigensian Wight – spring or autumn planting good keeper
3. Purple Wight a ‘hard neck’ best used fresh as it is a poor storer
4. Long Keeper large white bulbs to harvest in July from autumn planting.
5. Early Wight another ‘hard neck variety’ with AGM in purple variety
6. Luatrec Wight fat pink cloves with white outer skin and a good keeper.
7. White Pearl autumn planted will store reasonalble well.
8. Pink Lady a pink skinned bulbs and gloves that can be eaten raw.
9. Germidore softneck variety that is well adapted to British conditions. Produces large, white bulbs with a mild but rich flavour.
10. Chesnok Red a hardneck variety from Georgia with attractive purple striping and a lovely, full-bodied flavour. Lovely choice for baking as it has a lovely creamy texture. Great for garlic bread!

Elephant Garlic would be in many best top ten lists but is closely related to the Leek side of the allium family   see Gardeners tips

To buy a selection of garlic varieties from Thompson Morgan or click on the yellow above.