Inchelium Red Garlic
Certified Organic
Pre-order now — ships in September for fall planting.
Type
Subtype
Cloves per Bulb
Zone
Inchelium Red Garlic is a celebrated softneck artichoke garlic with Native American origins from Washington’s Colville Reservation. Winner of the 1990 Rodale Kitchen taste test, it offers a mild, full-bodied flavor that’s excellent raw or cooked. This heirloom produces attractive pink-purple striped bulbs with 8–15 cloves, adapts well to different climates, and stores 6 – 9 months—making it ideal for gardeners and chefs alike. Washington State University Extension has since made it the focus of an active revitalization effort on the Colville Reservation. Learn more about the history of Inchelium Red garlic.
Shipping & pre-orders
All seed garlic is sold as a pre-order. We harvest and cure through summer and ship in September, so bulbs arrive in time for fall planting. Orders ship in the order received, with tracking when they leave the farm.
Planting
Plant in fall, a few weeks before the ground freezes. Set cloves pointy-side up, 2 - 4 inches deep and about 4 - 6 inches apart in well-drained soil. Mulch after planting in cold-winter areas.
Storage before planting
Keep it cool, dark, and dry with good airflow until you plant. Don't refrigerate, since cold storage can trigger premature germination. The one exception is a hardneck that needs vernalization. In that case, place it in the fridge for 3 to 4 weeks, then plant immediately after removing it.
Volcanic soil
Grown in the basaltic volcanic soil of California's Southern Cascades — the mineral-rich ground the farm is named for.
High elevation
Farmed at over 3,300 feet. Cold winters and a cool spring season produce superior quality garlic.
Certified organic
USDA Organic, CCOF, and Real Organic Project certified. No synthetic inputs.
Seed, not surplus
Every bulb is selected and graded for planting, not sold off as kitchen leftovers.
Why volcanic soil matters Our garlic grows in the volcanic basaltic soil of California's Southern Cascades — the mineral-rich ground the farm is named for. Basalt slowly releases the calcium, magnesium, potassium, and trace minerals plants need to thrive, and the research backs it up: a 2024 study co-authored by Newcastle University found crops grown in basalt-amended soil carried significantly higher tissue calcium and grain potassium than crops in untreated fields. The difference here is that we're not amending our soil with basalt — we're farming on it.
When will my order ship?
Seed garlic ships in September, in time for fall planting. All fresh garlic on the site is a pre-order until then.
Is this certified organic?
Yes — USDA Organic, CCOF, and Real Organic Project.
Can I cook with it instead of planting?
You can, but it's graded and priced as seed for planting.
How much do I need?
Use the seed calculator to size your order — clove count and spacing vary by variety.|
Plan your seed garlic bed
Tap a plant to paint it. Drag a rectangle to paint many. Tap a row or column label to fill the whole line.