Description
Lorz Italian is an heirloom softneck with a long history in Italian-American growing traditions, and one of the best choices if you want garlic that stores well into the following season. Rustic, knobby bulbs with big, fat cloves, flexible tops perfect for braiding, and a mild flavor that earns a permanent spot in any kitchen.
Flavor
Mild, slightly sweet, and clean. Lorz Italian has a gentle garlic flavor that works in any dish without overwhelming anything else on the plate.
In the Kitchen
An excellent everyday cooking garlic. Particularly good in Italian-style cooking: pasta aglio e olio, focaccia, white beans, roasted vegetables. Its mild character also makes it a go-to for aioli, compound butter, and raw preparations.
Growing
A softneck artichoke variety that produces no scape and needs minimal attention. Highly adaptable across climates, reliable in both warm (zones 7 to 9) and cool (zones 5 to 7) regions. Plant October to November, harvest June to July. New to growing garlic? See our complete growing guide for step-by-step planting instructions.
Storage and Braiding
Stores 6 to 10 months from harvest in a cool, dry, well-ventilated space. The soft, flexible tops stay pliable after curing, making Lorz Italian an excellent variety for traditional garlic braiding.
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
Lorz Italian runs about 55 cloves (roughly 5 bulbs) per pound. Approximate counts by size:
- 1/4 lb: ~14 cloves (~1.3 bulbs)
- 1/2 lb: ~28 cloves (~2.5 bulbs)
- 1 lb: ~55 cloves (~5 bulbs)
- 2 lb: ~110 cloves (~10 bulbs)
- 5 lb: ~275 cloves (~25 bulbs)
How We Grow
Our farm is an ODA inspected and licensed nursery, inspected annually during the spring growth season. We feed our soil with OMRI-listed organic fertilizers including feather meal, rotate our crops every season, and have never applied synthetic pesticides or fertilizers to our land. Grown in Coburg, Oregon.
Hardneck vs. softneck garlic — which is right for your garden?
Shipping now — almost sold out. This variety is nearly gone for the season and will not be restocked until next year. Orders ship within about a week of purchase. 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+.
