This variety of garlic, also sometimes known as Cuban Purple Garlic, was originally from Cordoba, Spain and imported from the USA in 1994 by the Australian Garlic Industry Association.
Boorara selected Rojo de Castro Garlic for its hot, rich, nutty flavour (both raw and cooked), and long storage time - up to 12 months! Due to it's smaller size and low yield, many other commercial growers don’t produce Rojo but for the home gardener it has arguably the best flavour of all the garlic varieties.
Rojo garlic does well in Perth, inland and further north as it does not like to be too wet or humid and suits the drier conditions.
Rojo is a Hardneck Garlic - Weakly Bolting variety and unlike the Purple Stripe Garlic, scapes (leafless green flower stalks originating from ground basal leaves) appear in the later growing stages and are fairly droopy. Removing the scapes will help to increase the bulb size.
Price is per bulb. Average weight of bulbs is over 30 grams. Approximately 8-10 cloves per bulb.
We also stock Organic Purple Stripe Garlic and spray free elephant garlic.
| One clove (2-3 grams) of raw garlic contains | ||
|---|---|---|
| Vit A 0.27IU | Vit B-6 0.037mg | Vit C 0.936mg |
| Vit E 0.002mg | Vit-K 0.051µg | Carbs 0.992gm |
| Carotene 0.15µg | Calcium 5.43mg | Copper 0.009mg |
| Energy 4.47kca | Fiber 0.063gm | Iron Fe 0.051mg |
| Manganese 0.05mg | Niacin 0.021mg | Protein 0.191gm |
| Potassium K12mg | PHOS 4.59mg | Riboflavin 0.003mg |
| Selenium 0.426mg | Thiamin 0.006mg | Zinc Zn 0.035mg |
Plant garlic cloves between the end of March to the end of May for the Purple Stripe variety of garlic in the south west of WA. Plant in March to early April in warmer climates. In cooler parts of Australia, spring is preferable.
Choose the largest cloves for planting - the bigger the clove, the bigger the head.
Prepare the ground with lime, compost and pelletised chicken manure, making sure that it is well worked-through the ground and weeds removed.
Plant the cloves 8 - 10 cm apart and 4 cm deep with the pointy bit upwards.
Water the plantings in well and keep the plants regularly watered, not letting them dry out through the growing season.
Keep the plants free of weeds, especially during the early part of the growing season.
Harvest when the plants are dry and half the leaves have browned off and died. This will happen from the base of the plants. It is not essential to remove the flower stalks.
Knock most of the soil off the mature garlic and either hang or place on racks to dry for three weeks minimum before cutting off the stalks and roots and storing in a cool, dry place with ample air flow to prevent post-harvest rot.
You can begin to eat your garlic as soon as the bulbs begin to swell, stems and all, like for leeks, or when you first harvest and the skins are still soft. You do not have to wait for them to dry.
Correctly hung and dried garlic will keep in a cool, dry dark place in a paper or mesh bag. It's recommended not to keep whole garlic bulbs in your fridge.
Please note: This product is usually only available in stock for the main garlic planting season in the Perth region which is from approximately March to the end of May. If this product is showing as out of stock outside of this time, we will not be restocking it until next year. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Waterfall Galvanised 9l Watering Can
Certified in accordance with the Southern Cross Organic AS6000 Standard.
Boorara Organics is a hands on family farm where Ben, Sherry, Alex, Eliza, Lauchy and Layla use regenerative practices to prove that small scale farming using ethically sound and organic practices can successfully build communities. Founded in 2017, the farm began with a small scale cattle breeding program before the first garlic crop was planted in 2022. The garlic beds will remain permanently with only the top portion disturbed - allowing the organic farmer's best friend, the earth worm, to live in relative peace while continuing his important work.
Boorara is located near Northcliffe and Pemberton in the pristine Southern Forests region of Western Australia. They only use sustainable and regenerative agriculture practices on their nutrient-rich land, a perfect blend of karri sandy loam. This allows them to grow beautiful garlic as well as other fruits and vegetables. Their goal is to only sell the best of the best to their customers. All produce is processed by hand.
Boorara Organics certified organic garlic is packed full of taste and a refreshing joy for those who appreciate fresh, healthy garlic with outstanding flavours.
Thank you for supporting local WA farmers.