Plant Metechi in fall, from mid-September through October and at least four weeks before lasting soil freeze. Divide the 3 bulbs only when the bed is ready. Choose full sun and exceptionally well-drained soil. Set every firm clove point upward at a depth of 8 cm (3 in), with 15 cm (6 in) between plants and approximately 30 cm (12 in) between rows. Water deeply after planting. Once the ground cools, add 8 to 12 cm (3 to 5 in) of clean straw. In spring, open compacted mulch around shoots, weed early, and ensure meltwater drains rapidly. Cold hardiness never compensates for prolonged saturation around the cloves.
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Purple Stripe hardneck garlic bulbs for planting
Amaryllidaceae
Vigorous Purple Stripe garlic with strong flavour · garlic bulbs for planting · plant garlic in fall
Metechi garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Metechi’)
Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon
Metechi is a hardneck Purple Stripe garlic for gardeners seeking vigour, cold hardiness, and assertive flavour. The package contains exactly 3 bulbs; each head normally develops 5 to 7 large cloves around a rigid stalk. Planted in fall, it roots before winter, resumes strongly in spring, and reaches approximately 60 cm (24 in). Its curling garlic scape is edible before the main late-summer harvest. Cloves are strong, hot, and spicy but become rounder through cooking. After complete curing, sound heads store into spring. Metechi is therefore well suited to growing garlic in Canada in fertile, deep, exceptionally well-drained soil where spring moisture and weeds can be managed carefully.
Quantity
3 bulbs
Exposure
Full sun to bright partial shade
Hardiness
Zones 2 to 10
Difficulty level
Easy
Discover the plant
Family
Amaryllidaceae
Genus
Allium
Species
sativum var. ophioscorodon
Cultivar
Metechi
Type
Purple Stripe hardneck garlic bulbs for planting
Cycle
Bulbous perennial grown as an annual vegetable crop
Metechi garlic (Allium sativum var. ophioscorodon ‘Metechi’) is a hardneck Purple Stripe garlic recognized for vigorous growth, strong cold hardiness, and storage into spring. Each round head normally carries 5 to 7 large cloves beneath pale wrappers often washed with violet. Strong, hot, spicy flavour gives dishes a lasting presence. The Van Noort package contains exactly 3 bulbs. Plants reach approximately 60 cm (24 in), form a curling garlic scape in late spring, and tolerate Zone 2. A late-summer harvest makes this cultivar especially useful in northern vegetable gardens seeking an expressive garlic with reliable performance and long keeping quality.
Plant Metechi in fall, at least four weeks before lasting soil freeze, in full sun or very bright partial shade. Divide the 3 bulbs only when the bed is ready. Set cloves point upward at a depth of 8 cm (3 in), leaving 15 cm (6 in) between plants and approximately 30 cm (12 in) between rows. Deep, fertile, loose, exceptionally well-drained soil protects cloves through winter. Water after planting, then mulch once the ground cools. In spring, weed early, feed moderately, maintain even moisture, and cut scapes at their first curl to support head size. Prevent standing water during snowmelt and prolonged spring rain.
Harvest in late summer when several lower leaves have browned while four or five upper leaves remain green. Stop watering approximately two weeks beforehand, lift heads with a fork, and cure whole plants for two to four weeks in shade with strong airflow. Metechi stores into spring when correctly cured and kept cool, dry, dark, and ventilated. Large cloves strengthen sauces, marinades, stews, and roasted vegetables; cooking softens their heat without erasing depth. Use tender scapes, reserve the finest heads for replanting, and maintain a rotation of approximately four years. Inspect stored bulbs monthly and cook any damaged or softening cloves first.
Planting guide
From planting to establishment.
Planting depth
8 cm (3 in), point upward
Spacing / density
15 cm (6 in) between plants and approximately 30 cm (12 in) between rows
Establishment temperature
10 to 15°C
Establishment time
14 to 28 days
Best planting time
October to November in Quebec, depending on region
Propagation
Separate bulbs into cloves immediately before planting
Growing method
Plant Metechi in fall, from mid-September through October in most cold Canadian regions, at least four weeks before lasting soil freeze. Choose full sun and a location where meltwater never stands. Loosen 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) of soil and incorporate mature compost. Separate the 3 bulbs only immediately before planting; keep large cloves firm and their skins intact. Orient the root plate downward and point upward at a depth of 8 cm (3 in). Space plants 15 cm (6 in) apart in rows approximately 30 cm (12 in) apart. Water deeply, then wait until the ground cools before adding 8 to 12 cm (3 to 5 in) of straw. In spring, free shoots if mulch is compacted, weed without injuring roots, and apply moderate nitrogen. Keep soil evenly moist, never saturated. Cut garlic scapes approximately ten to fourteen days after they appear or at their first curl. Stop feeding when heads expand. Reduce water as leaves yellow and stop approximately two weeks before the late-summer harvest. Lift with a fork and cure without washing. Preserve all protective wrapper layers during lifting, curing, and final storage. Handle heads carefully.
Soil and care
The right conditions.
Exposure
Full sun to bright partial shade
Soil pH
6.2 to 6.8
Hardiness zone
Zones 2 to 10
Minimum temperature
Hardy to Zone 2 with well-drained soil and winter mulch
Watering
Water deeply after planting, then allow fall precipitation to maintain light moisture. In spring and early summer, provide approximately 2.5 cm (1 in) weekly, including rainfall, as the surface dries. Direct water to the soil in the morning. Even moisture supports vigour and head size, but saturation encourages rot. Reduce irrigation as leaves yellow and stop approximately two weeks before harvest so wrappers can mature and remain protective.
Soil type
Metechi prefers deep, loose, fertile loam enriched with stable organic matter. Drainage must remain rapid through fall rain, winter thaws, and spring snowmelt. Incorporate mature compost before planting. In heavy clay, raise the bed and add a structural mineral component. Avoid fresh manure, compacted soil, and wet depressions. An aerated texture allows the 5 to 7 large cloves to develop evenly without prolonged saturation around the head.
Fertilization
Before planting, incorporate a thin layer of mature compost and correct only deficiencies shown by a soil test. In spring, apply moderate nitrogen beside the rows, then repeat lightly three or four weeks later if foliage pales. Stop all feeding when heads begin expanding. Late excess prolongs green growth, delays harvest, and reduces storage quality. Keep concentrated fertilizer away from cloves and roots to prevent injury.
Seasonal care
In spring, inspect drainage as snow melts and open mulch that retains excess water. Then keep a light straw layer for weed suppression. Weed early and shallowly because garlic roots occupy the upper soil. Feed moderately as growth resumes and repeat lightly after several weeks if vigour requires it. Water deeply whenever soil begins drying. In late spring, cut garlic scapes at their first curl and cook them promptly. During summer, stop feeding as heads expand. Reduce watering when lower leaves yellow, then stop approximately two weeks before harvest. In late summer, lift heads when several lower leaves are brown while four or five upper leaves remain green. Cure whole plants for two to four weeks in shade, dryness, and strong airflow. Do not wash them. After curing, trim roots and stalks, brush away soil, and sort the crop. In fall, select the finest firm heads for planting in a different bed. During winter, keep the rest cool, dry, dark, and ventilated; inspect monthly and remove any bulb that softens, moulds, or sprouts. Record head size and storage duration to improve the next selection. Keep every batch labelled during curing and storage so Metechi is never mixed with other cultivars. Review notes before fall planting, choose heads that remained firm longest, and discard any stock showing basal damage. This simple record links soil conditions, irrigation, harvest timing, final size, and keeping quality from one season to the next.
Container growing
A controlled environment.
Recommended pot size
At least 30 cm (12 in) deep and 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) wide, with generous drainage
Choose a frost-resistant pot at least 30 cm (12 in) deep and 40 to 50 cm (16 to 20 in) wide for several Metechi cloves. It needs numerous holes and should rest on feet without a water-filled saucer. Use light vegetable mix blended with mature compost and a mineral drainage component. In fall, plant cloves point upward at 8 cm (3 in), leaving 15 cm (6 in) between them and open space near the walls. Water, place in full sun, and mulch after conditions cool. For a cold Canadian winter, temporarily sink the container, insulate it, or group it beside a sheltered outdoor structure. Do not bring it into warmth. In spring, expose shoots, check the holes, and water when the upper 2 to 3 cm dries. Feed moderately, cut scapes, and reduce water as foliage yellows. After harvest, cure elsewhere and replace the entire mix before another Allium crop. Watch winter thaws closely because saturated containers damage roots quickly. Rotate the pot if light reaches only one side and maintain airflow around foliage. Label the planting so cured heads remain identifiable when several garlic cultivars share the same garden.
Bloom and dimensions
The complete profile.
Flower color
Purple when umbels mature
Foliage color
Green
Foliage type
Deciduous, strap-like, and aromatic
Growth rate
Moderate
Bloom period
Metechi produces a firm scape in late spring or early summer that bends and then curls. Harvest this garlic scape at its first loop while tender and edible. Removal directs more energy toward the head. A retained scape may straighten and carry an umbel of bulbils, but keeping every scape generally reduces bulb size and is not recommended when the main goal is a large harvest.
Fruiting
Garlic does not produce a fleshy fruit. Hardneck types instead develop aerial bulbils in the structure at the top of the scape. These small propagules can be planted but generally require several seasons to form culinary-sized bulbs. For vegetable production, removing the scape while curled supports enlargement of the underground bulb and provides an early edible harvest before the main crop matures. successfully.
Harvest
Late summer, when several lower leaves brown while four or five upper leaves remain green
Garden associations
What to plant with it.
Good companions
Sow radishes, lettuce, or spinach along Metechi bed edges and harvest them before heads require full space. Calendula, sweet alyssum, and phacelia can support beneficial insects when kept outside the row. After harvest, a short green manure covers open soil. These associations improve succession and biodiversity but never replace rotation, drainage, or weeding. Always keep an open zone around each plant base so foliage dries quickly after rainfall. Harvest every edging crop before final head expansion and prevent dense shade during spring.
Avoid planting with
The main problems are bulb rot in poorly drained soil, onion flies, and certain fungal diseases. Proper crop rotation helps reduce these risks.
Large Metechi cloves bring strong spicy flavour to dressings, salsas, compound butter, and marinades. Chopped cloves structure soups, sauces, stews, and roasted vegetables. Slow cooking rounds the heat while preserving persistent garlic depth. Tender scapes make pesto or can be sautéed and grilled. Add garlic late for greater intensity or early for a more integrated flavour. Reserve the finest heads as planting stock, and use damaged cloves first because broken wrappers shorten storage life. Firm cloves can also become planting stock for the following season.
From the garden to inspiration.
Roasted Metechi purée — Preheat the oven to 190°C (375°F). Remove loose outer wrappers from one head, trim the clove tops lightly, and place it in a small covered dish. Add 10 ml (2 tsp) olive oil, thyme, and pepper, then roast for 40 to 55 minutes until tender. Cool briefly and squeeze the flesh from its skins. Mash with 60 g (¼ cup) white beans, 5 ml (1 tsp) lemon juice, 15 ml (1 tbsp) cold water, and a pinch of salt. Serve on bread or with vegetables. Refrigerate within two hours and use within three days, or freeze in portions. Never leave a garlic-and-oil mixture at room temperature because a low-oxygen environment can support botulism toxin formation. Taste after adding lemon and adjust seasoning gradually. For a looser sauce, add another spoonful of cold water rather than excess oil. Label frozen portions with the date and thaw only the amount needed. The robust cultivar retains noticeable flavour even when blended with beans.
Frequently asked questions
Everything toknow.
Metechi offers strong, hot, spicy flavour that persists after the first bite. Raw, one small clove is often enough to lift dressing, salsa, mayonnaise, or compound butter. Chopped and added early in cooking, it integrates into sauces, soups, and stews while retaining clean depth. Roasted inside its wrapper, it becomes milder, creamy, and lightly sweet. Garlic scapes cut at their first curl have a greener, gentler flavour; use them in pesto, sautéed dishes, or on the grill. Begin with a small amount, taste, and adjust according to the recipe and personal heat tolerance. Long storage also makes Metechi useful for cooking well beyond harvest.
Metechi matures in late summer. Use foliage as the guide: several lower leaves should be brown while four or five upper leaves remain green. Those remaining green leaves correspond to wrappers protecting the head. Waiting until everything is dry can allow skins to split and shorten storage. Reduce water as yellowing begins and stop approximately two weeks before harvest. Lift one test head with a fork; the 5 to 7 large cloves should be clearly defined beneath an intact wrapper. Then dig without pulling the foliage and move plants immediately into shade for curing. Avoid washing, bruising, or leaving freshly lifted heads in direct sun.
Harvest at the correct stage, then cure whole plants for two to four weeks in shade in a dry, highly ventilated area. Do not wash the heads. When necks and wrappers are completely dry, trim roots and stalks, brush away soil gently, and retain only firm, intact, mould-free bulbs. Place them in a basket, mesh, or paper bag in a cool, dry, dark, stable location. Avoid sealed plastic and humid refrigerator conditions. Inspect monthly and cook any head that softens or sprouts promptly. Keep the finest heads whole for the next planting and divide them only at the last moment. Complete curing and intact wrappers are essential for storage into spring.
Yes, in a frost-resistant container at least 30 cm (12 in) deep, wide enough to leave 15 cm (6 in) between cloves, and pierced with numerous holes. Use a light draining mix, plant at 8 cm (3 in), water, then mulch as the mix cools. Protect the pot from rapid freeze-thaw cycles by temporarily sinking it, insulating its walls, or grouping it in a sheltered outdoor location. Do not bring it into warmth. In spring, clear the holes, expose shoots, and water as the surface dries. A water-filled saucer or compacted mix poses greater risk than cold itself. Maintain airflow and rotate the container if light is uneven.
Its strengths, naturally.
Not recommended for pets
Pets
Attracts or supports pollinating insects
Pollinators
Less attractive or generally tolerated by deer
Deer
