Introduction
When we first started scaling up our garlic operation at Basaltic Farms, one of the most stressful parts was figuring out how to order seed garlic in bulk. It’s one thing to order a few pounds for a garden, but when you’re talking about hundreds or thousands of pounds for a commercial planting, there are a lot of things that can go wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing. And I made just about every mistake you can make in those early years.
So this guide is everything I’ve learned about buying bulk seed garlic, from calculating quantities to choosing a supplier to handling your order when it shows up. Check our current pricing and availability if you want to see what we offer for the current season.
What Does Buying Bulk Seed Garlic Actually Mean?
When we talk about bulk seed garlic, we’re generally talking about orders of ten pounds or more, though that definition varies between suppliers. Some growers consider anything over five pounds to be a bulk order while others don’t offer bulk pricing until you’re at fifty or a hundred pounds.Â
We work with customers ordering anywhere from a few pounds for a large garden up to hundreds or thousands of pounds for commercial operations. The distinction between a retail order and a bulk order usually comes down to pricing structure. Bulk orders typically come with a lower per-pound price because there’s less handling involved in putting together one large shipment compared to dozens of small ones. At Basaltic Farms we begin offering volume discounts at 5lbs and scale all the way up to 2000lb plus!
The important thing to understand is that bulk seed garlic isn’t a different product from regular seed garlic. It’s the same certified organic, disease-inspected, size-graded garlic. You’re just buying more of it at a time.
How to Calculate How Much Seed Garlic You Need
This is where the math matters and it’s where I see people get into trouble the most. The number of cloves per pound of seed garlic varies significantly by variety and that variation makes a huge difference when you’re planning at scale.
I wrote a detailed breakdown in our guide on how much garlic to plant but here’s the quick framework for bulk ordering:
Step 1: Determine your total plant count. Measure your planting area and calculate how many cloves you need based on your spacing. At six-inch spacing in rows twelve inches apart, you’re looking at roughly 87,000 plants per acre.
Step 2: Know your cloves per pound by variety. A porcelain hardneck like Music averages 25 to 40 cloves per pound. A softneck like Inchelium Red averages 60 to 90 cloves per pound. This is the number that determines how many pounds you need to order.
Step 3: Do the division. Divide your total plant count by your expected cloves per pound. If you need 87,000 plants and you’re planting Music at 35 cloves per pound, that’s roughly 2,500 pounds of seed garlic. That same acreage planted with Inchelium Red at 90 cloves per pound only needs about 970 pounds.
Step 4: Add 10 to 15 percent buffer. Not every clove will be plantable. Some will be too small, some might have minor damage, and you want room for error. we always round up on bulk orders because running short at planting time is far worse than having a little extra.
When to Place Your Bulk Seed Garlic Order
This is the part where I really want to be direct with you because timing is everything when it comes to bulk seed garlic orders. The best varieties sell out. Every single year. And the larger your order, the more important it is to get in early because suppliers, including us, have finite amounts of each variety.
Here’s the general timeline I’d recommend. In March through May, start your research and reach out to suppliers to ask about availability. By June you should have your order placed or at minimum a firm reservation with a deposit. July through August is when a lot of the popular varieties are already spoken for. And September is when most seed garlic ships because it’s been harvested and properly cured by then.
If you’re reading this in July or August and haven’t ordered yet, don’t panic, but do act quickly. We’ve had customers contact us in October wanting hundreds of pounds and there’s just nothing left at that point. The garlic world runs on an annual cycle and being ahead of it makes everything smoother.
What to Look for in a Bulk Seed Garlic Supplier
When you’re buying ten or twenty pounds of seed garlic, a bad purchase is frustrating but manageable. When you’re buying five hundred pounds, a bad supplier can be devastating. Here’s what I look for and what I’d encourage you to ask about.
Do they grow it themselves? A supplier who grows their own garlic has skin in the game. They know the varieties intimately, they can answer detailed questions, and their reputation depends on the quality of every bulb they sell. Resellers don’t have that same accountability.
Can they provide variety-specific information? A good supplier should be able to tell you expected clove counts per pound, typical bulb size, storage duration, and flavor characteristics for every variety they sell. If they can’t, they probably don’t know their product very well.
What’s their disease management? Ask about their field inspection practices, whether they rogue out diseased plants, and how they handle any issues that come up. For bulk orders this is critical because planting hundreds of pounds of contaminated seed garlic could be catastrophic for your soil.
Are they certified organic? If organic certification matters to your operation, verify that your supplier actually has current certification from a recognized certifying body. Ask for their certificate number if you need to verify. At Basaltic Farms we’re certified through CCOF, USDA and Real Organics Project Verified and we’re happy to share that documentation.
What’s their communication like? A supplier who’s responsive to your questions before you order is likely to be responsive if there’s an issue after you order. If you can’t get a straight answer before sending them money, that’s a red flag.
Understanding Seed Garlic Pricing at Scale
Seed garlic pricing is something that confuses a lot of first-time bulk buyers, and I get it because the per-pound prices can seem high compared to grocery store garlic. But seed garlic and grocery garlic are completely different products with completely different costs of production.
Quality seed garlic costs more because it involves variety selection over multiple generations, disease management and field inspection, size grading and sorting, proper curing and storage, and organic certification costs if the farm is certified. All of that adds up. When you see seed garlic priced at fifteen to thirty dollars per pound or more for certified organic stock, that price reflects the real cost of producing something worth planting.
Bulk orders typically get better per-pound pricing because the handling costs per pound go down with larger orders. The savings can be meaningful when you’re ordering hundreds of pounds. Contact us through our pricing page for current bulk rates.
Shipping and Handling for Bulk Orders
Shipping bulk seed garlic is a bigger deal than most people realize. Garlic needs to stay cool and dry during transit, and large orders are heavy. A pallet of seed garlic can easily weigh a thousand pounds or more, and getting that from our farm to your farm without damaging the product takes planning.
We ship our seed garlic in September after it’s been properly cured. For smaller bulk orders we use sturdy boxes to prevent damage in transit. For very large orders we work with freight carriers and use palletized shipping. Either way, the garlic arrives ready to plant.
Shipping costs for bulk orders are something to factor into your budget. It’s not cheap to ship heavy agricultural products across the country, but many growers find that the quality of the seed garlic more than makes up for the shipping investment when it shows up in their harvest the following year.
What to Do When Your Bulk Order Arrives
The day your seed garlic shows up is exciting but it’s also a day where you need to pay attention. Open the boxes and inspect the garlic as soon as possible. You’re looking for firm bulbs with intact wrappers, no mold, no soft spots, and a clean garlic smell. If something doesn’t look right, contact your supplier immediately.
Take a representative sample and crack open a few bulbs to check the cloves inside. They should be plump and firm with no signs of decay or excessive drying. Count the cloves in several bulbs to verify that the clove count matches what you expected for that variety. This is your last chance to identify any issues before planting day.
Storage Before Planting
If your seed garlic arrives in September but you’re not planting until October or November, you need to store it properly in the meantime. Keep it in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. Fifty to sixty degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Don’t stack boxes too deep because you want air circulating around all the bulbs.
Don’t put it in the refrigerator because that can trigger premature sprouting. Don’t seal it in plastic because that traps moisture and encourages mold. And don’t leave it in a hot garage or shed because heat accelerates deterioration. A covered porch, unheated room, or barn usually works well.
Don’t break bulbs apart into individual cloves until you’re ready to plant. The intact bulb protects the cloves and keeps them viable longer. We typically crack our bulbs a day or two before we plant and up to a week in some cases but any more advanced than that and your risk your cloves going bad.
Common Bulk Ordering Mistakes
- Ordering too late: I can’t say this enough. Popular varieties sell out by mid-summer. If you’re planning a fall planting, order in spring. Waiting until August or September means limited selection and possibly no availability at all.
- Underestimating quantity needed: It’s better to have ten percent too much than to be ten percent short. Running out of seed garlic at planting time means empty rows and lost revenue. Use the calculation method above and round up.
- Not accounting for variety differences in clove count: If you’re switching from a softneck with 90 cloves per pound to a hardneck with 30 cloves per pound, you need three times as many pounds to plant the same area. This catches people off guard every year.
- Choosing a supplier based only on price: The cheapest seed garlic is almost never the best value. If it arrives small, diseased, or the wrong variety, the money you saved on the purchase price costs you many times over in a bad harvest.
- Not having a backup plan: Seed garlic is an agricultural product and sometimes things happen. A variety might be short that year, shipping might be delayed, or a crop might not perform as expected. Have a contingency variety or a second supplier in mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bulk Ordering Basics
What is the minimum order for bulk seed garlic?
This varies by supplier. At Basaltic Farms we work with orders of all sizes but bulk pricing typically kicks in at larger quantities. Contact us for current bulk pricing thresholds and we’ll work with you to figure out the best option for your operation.
Can I mix varieties in a bulk seed garlic order?
Absolutely. Most growers order multiple varieties in a single bulk order. We pack and label each variety separately so there’s no confusion. Just be clear about the quantity of each variety you need when placing your order.
How far in advance should I order bulk seed garlic?
I’d recommend placing your order or reservation by June at the latest. March through May is ideal because you’ll have the widest selection. Waiting past July for bulk orders is risky because popular varieties may already be sold out.
Do I need to pay for my full bulk order upfront?
Payment terms vary by supplier. Some require full payment upfront, others take a deposit to hold your reservation with the balance due before shipping. Ask your supplier about their payment terms before committing.
What if I need to change my bulk order after placing it?
Contact your supplier as soon as possible. Increases are usually possible if the garlic is still available. Decreases depend on the supplier’s cancellation policy. The earlier you communicate changes the better your options will be.
Quantities and Calculations
How many pounds of seed garlic do I need per acre?
Plan for 800 to 2,500 pounds per acre depending on variety. Porcelain hardnecks like Music with large cloves need about 2,000 to 2,500 pounds per acre. Softneck artichoke types with smaller cloves need 800 to 1,200 pounds per acre. Always add a 15 to 20 percent buffer.
Why do different garlic varieties require different amounts of seed per acre?
Because clove size varies dramatically between varieties. A Music porcelain clove might weigh 8 to 12 grams while an Inchelium Red clove might weigh 3 to 5 grams. You need the same number of plants per acre but the weight of seed required is very different.
How do I convert between pounds of seed garlic and number of plants?
Divide your total plant count by the expected cloves per pound for your chosen variety. For example, 87,000 plants divided by 35 cloves per pound for Music equals roughly 2,486 pounds of seed needed.
Should I order extra seed garlic beyond what I calculate?
Yes, always order 15 to 20 percent more than your calculated need. Some cloves will be too small for planting, some bulbs may have damage, and you want flexibility for planting decisions in the field.
Can I use leftover seed garlic for eating if I ordered too much?
Definitely. Seed garlic is just very high quality garlic. Any surplus makes excellent eating garlic, or you can save the best bulbs as seed stock for the following season.
Quality and Logistics
How is bulk seed garlic shipped?
Smaller bulk orders ship in ventilated boxes via standard carriers. Very large orders may ship via freight on pallets. The key is maintaining airflow and avoiding temperature extremes during transit. We ship in September when garlic is cured and ready for planting.
How should I inspect my bulk seed garlic when it arrives?
Open boxes immediately and check for firm bulbs, intact wrappers, clean smell, and no mold or soft spots. Crack open several sample bulbs to verify clove size and count. Report any issues to your supplier right away.
What if my bulk seed garlic arrives damaged?
Contact your supplier immediately with photos and a description of the damage. Reputable suppliers will work with you to resolve issues whether that means replacement garlic, credit, or a refund. Document everything when the shipment arrives.
Can bulk seed garlic be stored if I'm not ready to plant immediately?
Yes, store it in a cool dry well-ventilated area at 50 to 60 degrees. Don’t refrigerate, don’t seal in plastic, and don’t break bulbs apart until planting day. Properly stored seed garlic will remain viable for weeks after delivery.
Is certified organic seed garlic available in bulk?
Yes. We sell certified organic seed garlic (/certified-organic-garlic/) in bulk quantities for commercial growers. Organic certification carries through from the farm to your field, which matters if you’re pursuing or maintaining organic certification on your own operation.
Suppliers and Pricing
How do I find reputable bulk seed garlic suppliers?
Look for farms that grow their own garlic, can name their specific varieties, and are willing to answer detailed questions about their growing and selection practices. Organic certification and years in business are good indicators of reliability.
Why is seed garlic more expensive than grocery store garlic?
Seed garlic involves variety selection over generations, disease inspection, size grading, proper curing, and often organic certification. These quality standards cost money to maintain but they’re what make seed garlic actually worth planting.
Do bulk seed garlic prices vary by variety?
Yes, prices can vary based on variety rarity, clove size, demand, and production difficulty. Porcelain varieties with fewer larger cloves often cost more per pound than softneck varieties with many smaller cloves, but the cost per plant can be similar.
Is it cheaper to buy seed garlic locally versus ordering online?
It depends on what’s available in your area. Local purchasing saves on shipping but may limit your variety selection. Online ordering gives you access to specialty varieties and certified organic stock that might not be available nearby.
Can I negotiate pricing on very large bulk seed garlic orders?
Many suppliers offer tiered pricing where the per-pound cost decreases with larger orders. If you’re ordering hundreds or thousands of pounds, it’s always worth asking about volume pricing. Reach out to us for a custom quote on large orders.
Ready to Place Your Order?
If you’re planning a commercial garlic planting or a large garden and you need quality seed garlic in bulk, we’d love to work with you. At Basaltic Farms we grow certified organic seed garlic in hardneck and softneck varieties that we’ve tested and selected over years of growing in our volcanic soil. We know our product inside and out and we’re always available to help you figure out the right varieties and quantities for your specific operation.
Visit our pricing page to see current availability and bulk rates, or reach out to us through our contact page to discuss your order. We begin publicly taking preorders every year in March and we begin to ship in September. If you’re reading this before March still reach out to us if you want to secure your garlic for the upcoming year.