How to Plant and Grow Persian Star Garlic

I don’t know what’s happening with alliums in Uzbekistan, but they’re growing some fantastic garlic.

There’s nothing wrong with a lovely, mild bulb, but sometimes you want something sweet, complex, and distinct. If that’s where you’re at, ‘Persian Star’ garlic is about to become your new best friend.

We link to vendors to help you find relevant products. If you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

It’s not too hot, but isn’t bland, with plenty of bold-but-sweet flavor.

Like most hardneck types, this cultivar does best in cold climates, which bring out the distinct flavor notes, but it’s still delicious even in warmer climates.

If you cut off the scapes at the right time, you’ll be treated to eight to 12 plump, medium-sized cloves.

If you like to decorate your house with garlic braids or big bowls of bulbs, you’ll love the look of ‘Persian Star.’ The wrappers are purple and white striped, making for a mouth-watering display.

This guide will help you grow garlic bulbs that will please the eye and the palate. Here’s what we’ll talk about to make that happen:

Garlic growing is all about timing, and ‘Persian Star’ is no different. You don’t want to miss your window, so let’s dig right in.

‘Persian Star,’ or A. sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Samarkand’ as it’s also known, is an heirloom hardneck garlic variety in the Purple Stripe group.

Hardneck means that the plant forms a hard stem that emerges from the bulbs. Softneck garlic produces leaves rather than a hard stalk. Learn more about the differences between hardneck and softneck garlic in our growing guide.

This cultivar was brought to the US after it was