Crop type: Garlic
Allium sativum var. sativum ‘Germidour’ AGM
Common name: Garlic ‘Germidour’ AGM
Crop slug: garlic
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘Germidour’ is a well-known, reliable French softneck garlic. It is an edible bulbous perennial normally grown as an annual and produces notably large white bulbs with a mild yet rich flavour. The crop is ready to harvest about six to seven months after planting.
Its combination of large bulbs, dependable softneck growth and gentler flavour distinguishes it from more pungent cultivars. Long, linear green leaves form a compact clump above the developing bulb. The RHS profile displays an Award of Garden Merit, reflected in the cultivar name used here.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Ultimate spread
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
The foliage remains narrow and upright, but space should be generous enough for this cultivar's large bulbs to expand. Its compact overall spread makes it suitable for orderly rows and sunny containers as well as open beds.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Sand, loam or chalk
- Moisture
- Moist but well-drained or well-drained
- Soil pH
- Neutral or alkaline
Prepare fertile ground that drains freely. In heavy soil, use a raised bed or container so winter moisture does not sit around the cloves. Maintain moderate spring moisture while plants are actively growing, without allowing the rooting zone to become waterlogged.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South-, east- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H4 — hardy through most of the UK
A sunny sheltered position helps the foliage build the large bulbs described for ‘Germidour’. The H4 rating suits overwintering through most of the UK. Good drainage is particularly valuable when cloves are planted before winter.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
The active foliage is green, narrow and strap-like. At maturity, large white bulbs are the defining harvest feature. A botanical plate should emphasise their generous scale, pale papery wrappers and softneck form rather than flowers, since crops are normally lifted when the foliage yellows.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Amaryllidaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Clump forming
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Allium contains bulbous herbaceous perennials with a strong onion or garlic scent. Members of the genus have linear, strap-shaped or cylindrical basal leaves and may produce star- or bell-shaped flowers in an umbel on a leafless stem.
Safety
Garlic may irritate the skin or provoke an allergic reaction, so wear gloves and other protection where appropriate. It is toxic to pets if eaten.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Choose fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. A period of cold supports good bulb development, so plant in late autumn or early winter. Divide the bulb immediately before planting, then set individual cloves 15cm apart with their tips 2.5cm below the soil surface. Leave 30cm between rows. Harvest from early summer once the leaves have turned yellow, approximately six to seven months after planting.
Propagation
Propagate by dividing a mature bulb into individual cloves. Plant sound cloves with the basal plate downward and the pointed end uppermost.
Suggested locations
- Sunny edible bed
- Raised bed on heavy soil
- Patio or container planting
- Cottage or informal garden
Pruning
No pruning is required. Remove flower stalks if they appear and bulb production is the priority, then lift the plants when their foliage signals maturity.
Pests
May be susceptible to allium leaf miner and onion fly. Crop protection and rotation help limit recurring damage.
Diseases
May be susceptible to onion white rot, onion downy mildew and leek rust. Free drainage, good airflow and a long allium rotation reduce avoidable disease pressure.