Gourmet Garlic: Marbled Purple Stripe

Reader Contribution by Andrea Cross

In this post, I’m going to return to discussing the different types of gourmet garlic available by introducing the ‘Marbled Purple Stripe’ variety, the ‘everyman’ of the garlic world. There is some argument as to whether ‘Marbled Purple Stripes’ are a sub-type of the Purple Stripe grouping or whether they are a distinct category of their own. Genetic evidence suggests that they do in fact deserve their own separate classification, and many growers support this division. Some common examples of Marbled Purple Stripes that you may find locally include Siberian, Metechi and Bogatyr.

Cultivation ‘Marbled Purple Stripe’

‘Marbled Purple Stripe’ cultivars are a hardneck variety and thus flourish in colder climates due to the extended period of dormancy, but they are also one of the few hardnecks known to perform well in warmer regions, making them a reliable choice for most climates. As an added bonus to coastal regions, ‘Marbled Purple Stripes’ are more forgiving of wetter conditions than other varieties tend to be.

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