Persian Star

Family: Amaryllidaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Persian Star to a garden.

Unfurl the unmistakable allure of Persian Star—hardneck garlic with a starry, jewel-like pattern of cloves wrapped in satin skins.

Expect bold, aromatic flavor that turns savory and richly fragrant when roasted, with a firm, easy-to-peel texture that lends itself beautifully to robust sauces and pickling. Grow it for a cool-season harvest that rewards patience with deep, warming character and striking, star-formed bulbs.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 180 DaysHabit: Bulbing

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Persian Star Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 2b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 3b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 4a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 4b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 5a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 5b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 6a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 6b	Protected Environment Only
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Oct 17th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	Oct 7th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	Sep 28th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	Sep 19th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Sep 2nd – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Aug 8th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Feb 28th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	180
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Bulbing
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	25
Harden Off (days)	Not Required

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Hardneck bulbs like Persian Star have that clean, satisfying peel and a sharper raw snap that mellows into a deep, nutty roasty sweetness. It’s built for heat—roast it, smash it, or pickle it—so the aroma lands hard and the texture stays intact.

Best Uses

roast whole heads until jammy for spreadable, star-clove butter
quick sauté or blitz into a punchy aioli/garlic mayo
slow simmer into tomato sauce or ragù—let it mellow into savory silk
pickled cloves for snappy, tangy crunch

Flavor Profile

bold pungent bite warming garlic sweetness when cooked firm, satin-skinned cloves that peel clean roasty, aromatic fragrance rather than watery sharpness

Kitchen Pairings

olive oil butter lemon black pepper parmesan tomato

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects garlic (Allium sativum), and how can I manage it?

Garlic commonly suffers from white rot (Sclerotium cepivorum), which causes yellowing, stunted growth, and white fungal growth near the base. Remove and discard infected plants, avoid planting alliums in the same bed for years, and improve drainage because wet, dense soil favors outbreaks. If you see early symptoms, dig up affected cloves/plants promptly to reduce spread.

How often should I water Persian Star garlic during active growth, and what soil moisture level should I maintain?

During the main bulbing phase, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch of water per week, adjusting for rain and wind. Water deeply, then let the top 1–2 inches of soil dry before watering again to prevent rot around the developing cloves. As you near harvest, reduce watering so the wrappers can mature and dry.

How can I tell when Persian Star garlic (Allium sativum) is ready to harvest?

Harvest when about 50–75% of the lower leaves have turned brown while the upper leaves still look green, typically near the 180-day mark for this type. Gently lift one plant to check: cloves should be plump and well-defined with skins that are papery. If you wait until all leaves brown, bulbs often split and store less reliably.