๐ When to Order Your Seed Garlic
- March 1 – Pre-orders open. Get the first choice!
- May – Popular varieties start selling out
- July – We harvest this year’s crop
- August – Shipping begins for planters
- September-November – Prime planting season
- December – Last chance for warm climates
๐ Reserve Your Garlic Today
๐ฐ Why Quality Seed Matters
- Bigger harvests – Good seed = 40% larger bulbs
- Disease-free start – Certified clean stock
- Better flavor – Genetics matter
- True varieties – Know what you’re growing
- Expert help – We support your success
โ Common Questions About Growing Garlic
When should I plant garlic?
Plant 4-6 weeks before your ground freezes. For us in Northern California, that’s late October. Southern growers can plant through December. Spring planting rarely produces good bulbs.
What makes autumn the best planting time?
Garlic needs cold exposure to form bulbs – what we call vernalization. Nature provides this perfectly through winter. No cold = no bulbs, just one fat clove!
Can I plant grocery-store garlic?
We don’t recommend it. Retail garlic is often treated to prevent sprouting and may carry diseases. Our certified organic garlic is specifically grown for planting success.
How deep should cloves go?
Plant 2-3 inches deep in mild areas, up to 4 inches where winters are harsh. Gene says: “If you’re north of Kansas, go deep!”
How much should I grow?
Most families use 50-75 bulbs yearly. Each bulb needs one clove to grow. Check our guide on how much garlic to plan perfectly.
Which varieties work best where?
Cold climates need hardnecks like Music. Mild winters do better with softnecks like Inchelium Red. We help match varieties to your zone.
Do I fertilize at planting?
Just add compost beforehand. Too much nitrogen in autumn creates weak plants. Save the feeding for spring. Learn our organic farming methods.
Why Mulch after planting?
Mulch prevents weeds, moderates temperature swings, and stops winter heaving. We use 4 inches of straw. It’s essential!
What if I miss the planting window?
Refrigerate cloves for 6-8 weeks to fake winter, then Plant in early spring. Results won’t match autumn-planted garlic, but it’s worth trying.
Can I save my seed?
Yes! Always save your biggest, best bulbs. After a few years, they’ll adapt perfectly to your garden. That’s how we developed our special strains.
๐ฉโ๐พ Why Choose Basaltic Farms?
Visit our garlic farm to see how we grow great organic garlic in California. We began in 2018, following the Tubbs Fire. Now, we grow premium garlic in volcanic soil.
What makes our California garlic farm different:
- ๐ Volcanic soil โ Makes garlic taste better
- ๐ฑ CCOF & USDA Certified Organic โ No chemicals, ever
- ๐ Northern California location โ Perfect climate for garlic
- ๐ Farm direct โ Buy California garlic online with no middlemen
- โ๏ธ Solar powered โ Sustainable farming practices
- ๐ง Many varieties โ Both hardneck and softneck options
- ๐ฆ Proper curing โ Lasts up to a year
- ๐ฐ Bulk California garlic โ Great prices for restaurants
- ๐ Ships nationwide โ Fresh to your door
- ๐จโ๐ณ 300+ chefs trust us โ They know quality
โญ Basaltic Farms Reviews
What Our Growers Say
Home gardeners and market farmers trust our seed garlic. See more customer reviews from successful growers.
๐ช Why Autumn Planting Creates Better Garlic
Growing garlic through winter provides unique advantages. These natural health benefits of garlic develop best with proper cold exposure:
- ๐งฌ More allicin โ Cold stress boosts compounds
- โค๏ธ Complex flavors โ Slow growth adds depth
- ๐ก๏ธ Longer storage โ Up to 12 months
- ๐ฟ Drought tolerance โ Deep winter roots
- ๐ง Mineral uptake โ More time in soil
- ๐ช Natural disease resistance โ Cold kills problems
- ๐ Full flavor potential โ Complete growing cycle
Note: These are cultivation benefits. FDA has not evaluated health claims.
๐ง Your Complete Planting Guide
Follow our proven method for garlic success:
๐ฅ Choosing Your Spot
- ๐ฅ Sun lover – Pick the sunniest location
- ๐ Good drainage – Garlic hates wet feet
- ๐ฏ Test your soil – pH 6.0-7.0 works best
- ๐พ Add organic matter – Compost is gold
- ๐ช Air movement – Reduces disease
- ๐ง Rotate crops – Don’t follow onions
- ๐ง Water access – For spring growth
๐ Timing Is Everything
- ๐ Soil temperature – 50-60°F perfect
- ๐ก Calendar guide – Count back from the first freeze
- ๐ง Morning planting – Our preference
- ๐ป Dry conditions – Never plant in mud
- ๐ฉธ Before hard freeze – Roots need to establish time
๐งช Planting Like a Pro
- ๐ง Separate carefully – Keep papery skins
- ๐ Pointy end up – Always!
- ๐ฆด Space matters – 4-6 inches apart
- ๐ฉธ Press gently – Good soil contact
- ๐ฆด Water once – Settle them in
- ๐ก๏ธ Mulch immediately – Your insurance policy
๐ฟ Picking Varieties
- ๐ Cold regions – Hardnecks rule
- ๐ Mild winters – Softnecks shine
- ๐ Ask us – We match variety to climate
