Garlic
Allium sativum

Family: Amaryllidaceae

What it is like

An onion family plant. It is an erect herb. It grows one year, then flowers the next. It grows about 40 cm high. This onion family plant has a number of tightly packed bulbs (cloves) wrapped in papery scale leaves. The true leaves of the plant are long, flat and solid. Leaves are 2.5 cm wide. The roots are side roots. The number of cloves per bulb varies from 16-50 depending on variety. Flowers are borne on a long stalk in a head where the flowers are on equal length stalks from one point forming a rounded head.

There are about 300-700 Allium species. Most species of Allium are edible (Flora of China). All alliums are edible but they may not all be worth eating! They have also been put in the family Alliaceae. It has anticancer properties.

Where it is found

A temperate plant. It grows in the tropical highlands mostly between 1600 and 2200 m but will grow satisfactorily down to 500 m. In Nepal it grows to 3000 m altitude. There are kinds that will grow in hot coastal tropical places. Best bulb development occurs with temperatures up to 30°C. It is frost resistant. High humidity or high rainfall is not suitable. It is best grown in low rainfall areas with irrigation. Bulb development is favoured with long day lengths. It does best with pH 6-7. It suits hardiness zones 8-10. In Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Albania, Andes, Andorra, Angola, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Balkans, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Britain, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, Cape Verde, Caucasus, Central Africa, Central America, Central Asia, Chad, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, East Africa, Ecuador, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, Georgia, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinée, Hawaii, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lithuania, Macedonia, Madagascar, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Marshall Islands, Mauritania, Mediterranean, Mexico, Micronesia, Middle East, Moldova, Mozambique, Myanmar, Nauru, Nepal, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Senegal, Sikkim, Slovenia, Somalia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Türkiye, Tuvalu, Uganda, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zambia, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

The cloves are used in small amounts to flavour food. The leaves can also be used. Leaves should be cut before they are mature.

At present not widely grown or used in Papua New Guinea. It is a commercially cultivated vegetable.

Edible parts

Leaves, bulb, seeds, herb, spice, stem, vegetable, flowers

How it is grown

Plants are grown by planting individual cloves. The individual segments of the clove are separated out then planted. A spacing of 20 cm is suitable. They should be planted into a deeply dug but firm seedbed. They are planted almost covered with fine soil. Cloves or "rounds" are best planted at the end of the wet season. Plants rarely produce fertile flowers or seed. They can be grown from seed.

Bulbs should be ready about 90-120 days from planting. Bulbs can be stored at 25-30°C for 90 days with low humidity and good air circulation.

Its other names

Local names

Ahos, Ahus, Ail, Ajo, Akcha, Arishtha, Bawang bodas, Bawang putih, Bellulli, česen, Chyet-thon-phew, Da suan, Galik, Harsun kelok, Hela lunu, Hom-tiam, Kathiem, Katiam, Krathiam, Kratiem, Kthem, Kyetthun-byu, Lasan, Lashuna, Lasun, Maneul, Ma nl, Nin-niku, Ramuza, Rosun, Sarymsak, Suan, Sudu lunu, Suen tau, Tafornua, Tellagadda, Thom, Thoom bari, Toi, Tongologasy, Tongolonkova, Top-setting wild garlic, Ulli, Vellaipundu, Vellavengayam, Velluli

Synonyms

Allium longicuspis Regel; Allium pekinense Prokhanov;