Description
Inchelium Red Softneck Seed Garlic - CLOVED Ready-to-Plant
This is the same seed stock we plant ourselves. Buying cloved garlic means you skip the work of cracking bulbs and picking out the best cloves for planting. We do that step for you, cracking each bulb and setting aside only the cloves we'd choose to plant.
Inchelium Red won a national garlic taste test judged by Rodale Kitchens, and it remains one of the most decorated softneck varieties in American garlic growing. Mild, sweet, complex flavor without heat or sharpness. Large bulbs, exceptional storage, and performance that consistently surprises growers who expect softnecks to be ordinary.
What Makes Inchelium Different
Most softneck garlic is mild because it lacks complexity. Inchelium Red is mild because it has been selected for sweetness and depth rather than heat. Raw, it has a gentle bite that disappears quickly. Roasted, it becomes almost buttery.
On our farm, we ran an intentional experiment with Inchelium in 2025: one row planted with our largest cloves, one row with our smallest. The small-clove row produced bulbs the same size — many reaching three inches across. Inchelium overachieves in mild winter climates in a way that defies the standard rules.
For Mild-Climate and Southern Growers
Inchelium Red does not require vernalization the way hardnecks do. It thrives in mild winters. Growers in the South, the Pacific Coast, and the lower Mid-Atlantic who have tried hardnecks and been disappointed will find Inchelium a different experience entirely.
Flavor
Mild, sweet, and layered. No harsh heat, no sharp bite. Works raw in dressings, dips, and salsas. Roasts into a sweet, mellow paste.
Storage
6 to 9 months in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. The flexible softneck stem makes it ideal for garlic braiding.
Growing
Plant October through November in most climates. No scape to remove. Harvest June through July when the lower leaves begin to dry. Cure 3 to 4 weeks before storing. New to growing garlic? See our complete growing guide for step-by-step planting instructions.
When Your Order Arrives
Remove the garlic from the shipping box as soon as it arrives. Store in a dry, open-air location with good airflow. Do not leave it sealed in the box.
If you are in a warm-winter region (zones 8 and warmer), refrigerate your seed garlic for 6 to 8 weeks at 35 to 40 degrees F before planting. See our vernalization guide for full instructions.
Package Sizes
Inchelium Red runs about 48 cloves (roughly 4 bulbs) per pound. Approximate counts by size:
- 1/4 lb: ~12 cloves (Equivalent to ~1.1 bulbs)
- 1/2 lb: ~24 cloves (Equivalent to ~2.2 bulbs)
- 1 lb: ~48 cloves (Equivalent to ~4 bulbs)
- 2 lb: ~96 cloves (Equivalent to ~9 bulbs)
- 5 lb: ~240 cloves (Equivalent to ~22 bulbs)
How We Grow
Our farm is an ODA inspected and licensed nursery, inspected annually during the spring growth season. We use OMRI-listed organic inputs, no synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Grown in Coburg, Oregon's Willamette Valley.
Hardneck vs. softneck garlic — which is right for your garden?
Shipping now. Order now to lock in your favorite varieties — several are already low in stock or sold out for the season and won't be restocked until next year. Orders ship within about a week of purchase, so there's no advantage to waiting. If your planting date is later and you'd like your order timed accordingly, just add a note at checkout and we will do our best to accommodate. Free shipping on orders $60+.
