About Inchelium Red Garlic Seed
Softneck – Artichoke
This award-winning soft-neck varietal has a full-bodied flavor, sporting a spiciness that increases with storage time. With its beautiful, medium-sized purple cloves, Inchelium Red is a joy to eat and creates eye appeal when displayed as braided hanging! See some YouTube videos on how to braid correctly, which is an art and much work to get right. (Organic Garlic Seed Pricing)
Inchelium red garlic is the oldest North American strain, grown by the San Poil tribe along the Columbia River in north-central Washington as far back as the 1700s.
Inchelium Red is the only North American Garlic included in the USA’s ‘Ark of Taste,’ a slow food movement spanning many continents that works to preserve culture through cooking and ingredients.
In 1990, Inchelium won a garlic taste-off hosted by Rodale Kitchens; while the event and kitchen may no longer be around, the Rodale institute continues on today and is an invaluable member of the organic, soil-focused farming revolution.
Inchelium Red features thick bulb wrappers, helping it store for up to 9 months; it’s high in soluble solids, making it denser and the perfect choice for roasting whole or half heads! The name ‘Inchelium’ comes from a San Poil word for a large and small body of water joining, most likely referring to the town where it was first planted or found.
Inchelium Red Garlic FAQ
How long does Inchelium Red garlic store?
Inchelium Red garlic is a national taste-test winner in the softneck division. This mild-flavored Garlic is exceptional when baked. This softneck was discovered on the Colville Indian Reservation in Washington. Stores very well for 6–9 months. Inchelium Red garlic seed is for sale and available in our online store until sold out. If you are looking for a top-quality softneck garlic, Basaltic Farms Inchelium Red is a great option.
Is Inchelium Red garlic hardneck or softneck?
Inchelium Red garlic is known for its large bulbs and intense flavor. The garlic plants are also easy to grow and require little maintenance. If you are looking for a garlic variety that is flavorful and easy to grow, Inchelium Red garlic is a great option.
How can you tell if garlic is from China?
The United States Department requires this of Agriculture in order to prevent soilborne plant diseases from entering our country. However, if the roots are still present, the Garlic is from California. You can rest assured that Basaltic Farms is USDA and CCOF certified Garlic, and we passed our 2022 onsite inspection in March 2022.
How To Plant Organic Inchelium Red Seed Garlic?
Crack the heads of garlic open, separating the inner cloves and leaving their thin papery covering intact.
Plant only the largest, undamaged cloves, some cloves might get a nick or two in them from the head-cracking process. Save the smaller and damaged cloves for a delicious batch of Toum, it’s like garlic mayonnaise, yum!
When planting cloves in the soil, place the pointy end up, 3-4 inches deep and 6 inches apart
How To Harvest Inchelium Red Garlic Seeds?
The garlic should be ready by late June, or early July in most areas.
When at least 50-75% of your crop has ½ green and brown leaves, stop watering and let the soil dry out for 2 weeks.
Spot checks can be done to ensure the maturity of your garlic: lightly and carefully dig around a random bulb, or bulbs, and check its size without digging it up. Inchelium bulbs typically reach 2 3/4 inches to 3 3/4 inches in size.
Using a hay fork or spade, loosen the soil 6 to 8 inches away from bulbs, use care so you do not damage the bulbs, and loosen the soil to make it easier to get the garlic up.
Do not remove the excess dirt with water, as water may start rot during the cure process. Dirt can be removed later when it’s dried with a soft brush. Be careful to not remove the layers of paper on the outside of the garlic. The papers help persevere and protect the bulbs and help extend the storage time. Do not leave the garlic bulbs exposed to sunlight for more than 30 minutes while harvesting. The sun can quickly start cooking the garlic which will turn garlic into mush while curing.
How To Cure Organic Inchelium Red Garlic Seeds
Make sure that you have not removed the leaves or roots of your harvested garlic, these contain extra moisture and will help with flavor compounds while your garlic is curing.
Hang bulbs in a well-ventilated, dry area out of direct sunlight and room temperature, making sure the temperature does not drop below 45 degrees.
If you want to braid the garlic, make sure the stems have dried, but are still flexible. Garlic hanging time is variable depending on the weather in your area, you’ll know it’s done when the roots and leaves are completely dry and easily breakable.
This can take anywhere from 2 – 6 weeks. Artichoke type garlic can last for up to 12 months if cured and stored properly!
When Is the Best Time To Plant Chesnok Red Garlic Seed?
- October – November: Plant
- November – June: Weed, Water & Fertilize
- June – July: Harvest
- July – August: Cure
Plant Your Garlic Cloves
Plant cloves in the ground 3 – 5 weeks before the first frost; you can plant in the spring but run the risk of bulbs growing smaller. Place the tip or sharp seed side up and space 4 to 6 inches apart. Make your rows 12 inches apart.
Weed, Water & Fertilize
Garlic loves sandy loam soils, and if you have this type of soil, you can spread mulch, compost, or a mix of both over your crop to help insulate the Garlic and feed your crop. Immediately after planting, we used a blend of organic alfalfa and straw to help suppress weeds that last until early spring. Weed watch begins as soon as they appear. You can apply more mulch, weed out the small ones first, or follow your farm’s cultural practices.
Fortunately, we use a finger weeder attached to our tractor to remove 95% of the weeds. By March, the mulch we applied in December breaks down, and we can weed 10 acres in 2 hours. So we follow up by hand, which takes the 4 of us one day.
During the growing season and after, the Garlic grows 6 inches tall. We use Neptunes Harvest as foilaire feed because it’s OMRI approved and 100% organic. It contains nitrogen, potassium, phosphorus, and sulfur. We use it every 2 to 3 weeks and stop applying 45 days before the expected harvest. You can use a hand-carried sprayer for smaller gardens and scale up the sprayer as needed. Neptunes can be purchased everywhere and online.
May – June
Inchelium is a softneck garlic and does NOT produce scapes. Softneck garlic has more seed/cloves than hardnecks. Continue to weed watch and feed your Garlic every 2 to 3 weeks.
Harvest Your Garlic As It Matures
Different types will mature at different times, and harvest should be based on the ratio of dead to alive leaves. Typically there are 9 to 13 sets of leaves on Inchelium.
It’s getting close when the dead leaves reach halfway up the plant. You can dig around the top of the bulb without disturbing the roots and check the bulb size. Bulbs increase in size in the last 6 to 8 weeks of growth. Be sure to STOP watering two weeks before you think your crop is ready.
Let Your Garlic Cure
After Harvest time, be sure to find a well-ventilated, cool, dark storage area to cure the Garlic for 3 to 6 weeks. Use a spade to loosen the soil about 6 to 8 inches from the bulb use care not to nick the Garlic. If you notice a nick on the Garlic, set it aside and use it in your kitchen.
Caleb Schallert –
I got my garlic and it was so fresh and vibrant. Very tasty too
Linda Smith-Purdy (verified owner) –
We ordered 3 times as much Inchellium Red for next season. It grew very well for us in this soaking wet season here in Michigan. Makes great braids, is gorgeous, delicious, and a strong grower.