Italian White
Several different Italian Whites are grown by commercial growers in Australia. Most are mid-season (apart from Italian Late) and range in size from 4.5 to 7cm and have between 10 and 22 creamy to white cloves. Some with purple tips.
General Information
| Other Names |
None known |
| International Names |
Italian White |
| Flavour |
Mild, simple, vegetative. |
| Storage |
Mid to long storage, up to 8 months. |
| Growing location |
Mainly grown in northern SA and Victoria, all of NSW. But also southern Victoria, Tasmania and WA. |
| Growing requirements |
Cold temperate climate, cold winters, warm spring, hot dry summer. But more tolerant than some Artichokes of wet and cold in spring and summer. Adaptable. |
| Planting and harvest |
Plant mid season (late March to early May), harvest mid season (November to early December) |
Bulb
| Shape |
Flat to teardrop shaped, 4.5 to 7 cm with a usually flat base.
|
| Skin colour and texture |
White skin, often with purple blotching or striping especially in cooler climates.
|
Clove
| Number and layout |
Usually 10-22 in two to three layers.
|
| Size and shape |
Outer cloves are large, flat and inwardly curving, inner cloves smaller, taller and more slender
|
| Skin colour and texture |
Creamy or tan to white cloves sometimes with purple tips. Thin skins that can be hard to peel.
|
Plant
| Size and shape |
Strong, wide and spreading. Often stronger and wider in colder climates.
|
| Leaves |
Broad, pale green to yellow green leaves at 45° to pseudostem. Fold in middle.
|
| Young plants |
Germinates readily, plants grow quickly and resemble adult plants.
|
| Matures |
Plants mature at a steady rate without any rapid development at particular times. Plants are not tall but are solid and strong.
|
| Scape |
Usually no scape
|
| Umbel and beak |
None
|
| Bulbils and flowers |
Very occasionally plants will grow 2 or 3 bulbils in the pseudostem, especially in colder climate or after other stresses like heavy rainfall.
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