Garlic Illico - The Accidental Smallholder

Illico is a superb, very early-maturing hardneck garlic, producing bulbs that are mainly white with some pale purple colouring.

Garlic Illico can be harvested in May as 'green garlic' - a delicious, sweet, mildly garlic-flavoured vegetable that is popular in the restaurant trade. Produces 9-10 cloves per bulb.

Hardneck types - these are closest to wild garlic and naturally form a seed stalk which gives this type its name. This stalk or scape is delicious used in stir fries and sauces! Hardneck varieties are very hardy, so will thrive throughout the UK, and are ideal for more northern areas.

Hardneck types form larger cloves than softnecks, but do not keep as long. See our Garlic Growing guide for cultivation advice.