Garlic preorders are open!

There are myriad reasons humans have consumed garlic for thousands of years.

For starters, it’s easy to grow, easy to harvest, easy to use, and, yes, easy to enjoy. And this year, Seed Savers Exchange is making it easy to order, too—we’re offering eight hardneck garlic varieties (including THREE new varieties) and one softneck garlic variety for sale.

Fall garlic preorders are now open!

Shipping and ordering information

• GARLIC WILL BEGIN SHIPPING MID-TO-LATE SEPTEMBER 2025 AND WILL CONTINUE UNTIL SOLD OUT.
• GARLIC ONLY SHIPS TO THE CONTIGUOUS UNITED STATES. 
• WE ARE UNABLE TO SHIP GARLIC TO THE FOLLOWING STATES AND JURISDICTIONS: AK, AFP, AFA, AFE, AS, HI, ID, OR, PR, WA
• SEED SAVERS EXCHANGE HAS THE RIGHT TO SUBSTITUTE A SIMILAR VARIETY IN CASE OF A CROP FAILURE OR SHORTAGE UNLESS YOU INDICATE OTHERWISE WHEN REVIEWING YOUR ORDER AT THE TIME OF CHECKOUT.

Hardneck versus softneck

Hardneck garlic varieties tend to form fewer cloves per bulb than softneck varieties, but those cloves are often a bit larger. Hardneck garlic grows better in colder climates because it requires prolonged exposure to cold weather of at least 40 days at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less. This process is called vernalization.

Softneck garlic varieties excel in milder climates, growing better in environments with warmer winters because they do not require cold exposure to make bulbs (whereas hardneck garlics do). They also mature more quickly than hardneck varieties, don’t form scapes, and generally contain several small cloves per bulb.

HARDNECK GARLIC

Porcelain garlic typically has bulbs with thick, bright-white skin. Bulbs have at least four cloves that are bold in flavor when raw or cooked. Porcelain garlic is cold-tolerant and stores for about eight months.

Purple-stripe garlics include glazed purple-stripe, marbled purple-stripe, and standard purple-stripe subgroups. Off-white bulbs have some degree of purple striping and deep-purple to red clove wrappers. This garlic type excels when baked or roasted.

Rocambole garlics have a rich, buttery, sweet flavor with medium heat that mellows when cooked. This garlic type thrives in cold, dry climates with well-drained soil and can store for 4-5 months. This garlic is great for roasting and for raw dishes.

Porcelain Varieties

‘Music’ 

4-10 cloves per bulb

This Italian variety boasts a delicious, spicy flavor when raw and a rich, sweet, and caramelly one when roasted. Its bright-white bulbs have a hint of pink and brown on the clove skins, and its large cloves are easy to peel. This porcelain-type garlic takes its name from Al Music, who brought it to Canada in the 1980s from his Italian homeland. It prefers cold climates but can adapt to warmer climates if not exposed to early-summer drought or heat stress. Organic.

REINTRODUCED! ‘German Extra Hardy’ 

5-6 cloves per bulb

Considered one of the best roasting garlics, this vigorous and exceptionally cold-hardy variety dependably produces large bulbs with a rich, classic garlic flavor that accentuates a wide range of dishes and cuisines. ‘German Extra Hardy’  boasts white-skinned bulbs that wrap burgundy-hued cloves; it overwinters well due to its long roots. Organic.

NEW! ‘Yugoslavian’

4-6 cloves per bulb

‘Yugoslavian’ garlic will keep your tastebuds guessing! It begins with a burst of spiciness that eventually mellows out to a more nuanced, long-lasting, sweet flavor, whether eaten raw or cooked. This hardy and disease-resistant garlic variety produces large, purple-striped bulbs and boasts an impressive storage life of (up to 9 months). ‘Yugoslavian’ garlic grows well in most climates, but might struggle in the heat of the most Southern states. Organic.

Purple-Stripe Varieties

‘Belarus’ 

8-12 cloves per bulb

‘Belarus’ boasts a rich “garlicky” flavor; it is delightfully mellow when raw and sweet when roasted. White, thick outer bulb wrappers develop increasing purple stripes closer to the cloves, with the clove covers bearing a deep reddish-purple color. Bulbs will store through the winter. Organic.

‘Krasnodar Red’ 

5-7 large cloves per bulb

Quite hot raw, this garlic has a pleasantly strong nutty flavor when roasted or baked. Its full-bodied flavor of this variety lingers and is retained after cooking. ‘Krasnodar Red’ is also a great choice for baking as it has a very creamy texture. Easy-to-peel bulbs are wrapped in attractive, striped wrappers surrounding pink clove skins. This garlic stores well (up to six) months. Organic.

NEW! ‘Red Grain’

6-8 cloves per bulb

Hailing from Cichisdzhvari, Republic of Georgia, ‘Red Grain’ garlic consistently produces uniform bulbs with a robust taste. This variety has uniquely colored reddish-brown cloves with an unforgettable, bold, spicy flavor. Its aromatic complexity and unusual color add depth and distinctiveness to dishes, making it a chef’s favorite. ‘Red Grain’ stores well (up to nine months). Organic.

REINTRODUCED! ‘Chrysalis Purple’ 

6-9 cloves per bulb

This dependable and captivating garlic has gorgeous, deep-purple stripes and a bold, spicy taste with a hint of earthiness. Its spectacular color and zesty cloves have a mild heat that is superb either raw or cooked, making it a sought-after choice for culinary experimentation and gourmet dishes. Organic.

Rocambole Varieties

NEW! ‘Red Russian’ 

6-7 cloves per bulb

Russian immigrants brought this full-flavored heirloom garlic to the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900s. ‘Red Russian’ garlic produces large bulbs wrapped by a slightly purple skin and has a sweet, nutty aftertaste when cooked. This early- to mid-season variety is extremely hardy; it grows well even in quite cold climates and will survive damp winter soils. ‘Red Russian’ stores well (up to six months). Organic.

SOFTNECK GARLIC

‘Inchelium Red’

12-16 cloves per bulb

The Rodale Institute rated this variety tops in taste in 1990. Originally from the Colville Indian Reservation in Inchelium, Washington, it has light-purple blotching on very large bulbs. Compound bulbs have large outer cloves and medium cloves in the center. ‘Inchelium Red,’ like other Artichoke types, is known for its adaptability to different growing zones, high productivity, and early maturity. Organic.