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Basaltic Farms
Inchelium Red Garlic
Inchelium Red Garlic
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Grown at Basaltic Farms in rich volcanic soil, Inchelium Red is a national taste-test-winning softneck garlic variety. Perfect for planting or cooking, this certified organic garlic is a must-have for serious growers, chefs, and home cooks who want authentic North American heirloom garlic they can trust.
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🌟 Product Highlights
Here's what makes Inchelium Red Garlic from Basaltic Farms special. From award-winning taste to excellent storage life, these highlights cover everything you need to know.
- ✅ Certified Organic – CCOF & USDA Certified
- 🏆 National Taste-Test Winner – 1990 Rodale Kitchens champion
- 🧄 Softneck Garlic – Perfect for braiding with mild, rich flavor
- 🎨 Artichoke Type – Light pink to purple blotched bulbs
- 🌿 No Scapes – Easy growing with no flower stalks to remove
- 🌱 Non-GMO – Naturally grown heirloom variety
- 📦 Large Bulbs – 2.5 to 3.5" diameter with 10–20 cloves per bulb
- 🌾 Heat Tolerant – Works in warmer climates, USDA Zones 3–9
- 🧊 Long Storage – Stores for 6–9 months in proper conditions
- 🔁 Dual Purpose – Excellent for planting or culinary use
- 🇺🇸 Historic Variety – Oldest North American garlic strain
🎯 Perfect for These Uses
- 🏠 Home Gardeners: Easy to grow, great for beginners, beautiful for braiding
- 👨🍳 Chefs & Restaurants: Award-winning flavor, consistent quality, perfect for roasting
- 🌾 Market Growers: High yield, long storage, popular with customers
- 🎨 Craft & Decor: Ideal for braiding attractive pink-blotched bulbs
- 🏛️ Heritage Gardeners: Preserve America's oldest garlic variety
- 🌡️ Warm Climate Growers: More heat-tolerant than hard neck varieties
- 🍽️ Versatile Cooking: Mild flavor perfect for any culinary application
📦 How Much Garlic Should I Order?
Not surehow much garlic to order? Whether you're planting garden beds or stocking your kitchen, our Guide helps you choose the right amount for your needs.
- 🌱 1/2 lb – Great for raised beds or monthly cooking (about 4–6 bulbs)
- 🌾 1 lb – Perfect for garden rows or serious cooking (about 8–12 bulbs)
- 🏆 2 lbs – Ideal for large gardens or restaurant use (about 16–24 bulbs)
- Bulb count varies by seasonal size and growing conditions.
Expected Yield: 1 lb of seed garlic gives you about 6–10 lbs of Harvest under good conditions.
Based on 4–6 inch spacing and average clove size with 70 to 80 cloves per pound.
💰 Bulk Pricing & Ordering
Bulk Garlic Orders: Call us at (530) 238-5357
💰 Bulk Pricing Available
- 💰 5–9 lbs: Save $0.50 per lb
- 🏪 10–24 lbs: Save $1.00 per lb
- 🌽 25–59 lbs: Save $1.50 per lb
- 🚜 60–99 lbs: Save $2.00 per lb
- 🏭 100+ lbs: Save $2.50 per lb
- ☎️ Commercial quantities: Call for custom pricing
📦 Shipping & Availability
- 🚢 Orders ship starting mid-August; in the order we get them
- ⏰ Limited seasonal stock – preorder recommended
- 📅 Pre-order deadline: August 15th for guaranteed availability
- 📦 Most ship via USPS; bulk orders via FedEx when needed
- 📧 You'll get confirmation and tracking when shipped
- 💰 Bulk orders (25+ lbs): Call for wholesale pricing and shipping options
- 📬 Note: Please confirm your shipping address to avoid extra fees
- 🔄 Substitution Policy: If sold out, we may substitute with a similar softneck variety (with your permission)
- 🏠 Minimum Orders: No minimum for retail, 25 lb minimum for wholesale pricing
🧬 About Inchelium Red Garlic
Inchelium Red is a true American heirloom, a variety that has been part of the culinary heritage of the San Poil tribe along the Columbia River in north-central Washington since the 1700s. It's the oldest North American garlic strain and the only North American garlic included in the USA's 'Ark of Taste.' We grow it on our certified organic California farm using the same traditional methods that have made this variety famous.
Key Details:
- 🌱 Species: Allium sativum
- 🧄 Type: Softneck, artichoke variety
- 🌍 Origin: Colville Indian Reservation, Washington
- 🏷️ Historic Name: Named after Inchelium, Washington
- 🏆 Award: 1990 Rodale Kitchens taste-test winner
- 📚 Conservation Status: Slow Food USA Ark of Taste
- 🌸 Family: Asparagales, Amaryllidaceae
👩🍳 Taste and Cooking
Inchelium Red is a national taste-test winner with rich flavor and medium pungency. It's mild at Harvest but increases in flavor during storage, with just a touch of spicy heat. This garlic is perfect for roasting whole or using fresh in any dish where you want great garlic flavor without overpowering heat.
Cooking Info:
- 🔥 Best Uses: Roasted, sautéed, raw, pickled, fermented
- 👅 Flavor: Mild, rich, nutty, sweet when roasted
- 🌶️ Raw vs. Cooked: Sharper when raw, mellow and sweet when roasted or sautéed
- 🧊 Shelf Life: 6–9 months for cooking
- 🌿 Scapes: No scapes produced
- ⭐ Special Quality: Dual-purpose - perfect for both cooking and planting
- 🎯 Clove Size: All large cloves, no tiny center ones except rarely
- 🍽️ Use: Excellent for both cooking and planting
- 📦 Storage Notes: 3–6 months in cool, dry, dark space for planting
🍲 Traditional American Recipe Ideas
- 🧄 Whole Roasted Garlic: Complete heads roasted until golden and caramelized
- 🥗 Fresh Garden Salads: Mild flavor perfect for raw applications
- 🌿 Herb Compound Butters: Gentle intensity ideal for finishing touches
- 🍲 Comfort Food Classics: Traditional American dishes enhanced with heritage flavor
- 🫒 Flavored Oil Infusions: Subtle taste perfect for specialty oils
- 🥒 Traditional Preserving: Extended-storage variety excellent for pickling and preservation
🍷 Perfect Pairings
- 🍇 American Wine Selections: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling
- 🧀 Cheese Varieties: Sharp Cheddar, Monterey Jack, Fresh Goat Cheese
- 🌿 Herb Combinations: Oregano, Thyme, Sage, Parsley
- 🥩 Protein Matches: Chicken, Pork, Seafood, Vegetarian preparations
🌱 How to Grow Inchelium Red Garlic
Don't let the thought of growing garlic intimidate you. Inchelium Red is an annual plant that grows well in many soil types, but it prefers well-draining soil with lots of organic material. This softneck variety is more heat-tolerant than hardneck types, making it a great choice for southern and warmer-climate gardeners. We use organic farming methods that keep soil healthy and support natural growth, so if you're a noob or an experienced gardener, you can trust Inchelium Red to deliver reliable results.
Inchelium Red Growing Guide:
- 🏡 Best For: Outdoor planting, container growing possible
- ☀️ Sunlight: Full sun (6–8 hours daily)
- 🗺️ Zones: USDA 3–9 (excellent heat and cold tolerance)
- 🌡️ Soil Temp: 50–60°F (10–15°C) ideal for planting
- 🌡️ Growing Temps: Vegetative phase 50–70°F (10–21°C), Bulbing phase 75–85°F (24–29°C)
- 🪴 Soil Type: Well-draining, loamy, neutral to slightly acidic pH
- ⏳ Days to Maturity: 240–270 days (fall planting)
- 🧄 Garlic Type: Softneck, no scapes to remove
- 🌰 Cloves per Bulb: 8 to 10 (varies by size)
- 📏 Bulb Size: 2.5 to 3.5" diameter
- ⚖️ Seed Count: About 4–8 bulbs per lb (70 to 80 cloves per lb)
- 📐 Spacing: 4–6 inches between cloves
- 💧 Watering: Moderate, steady moisture
- 🌱 Good Companions: Beets, carrots, lettuce, tomatoes
- 🌿 Fertilizer: Benefits from balanced organic fertilizer (10-10-10) at planting and side-dressing mid-season
- 💧 Container Growing: Possible in pots 12+ inches deep and 8+ inches wide (4 clove per pot)
- 🛡️ Disease Resistance: Good resistance to common garlic diseases when grown in well-draining soil
📅 Zone-Specific Planting Windows
- Zones 4–7: Late September – Mid October
- Zone 8: Mid-October – Early November
- Zone 9: Late October – Mid November
- Zone 10: November – Early December (pre-chilling optional)
Note: Very flexible variety. In Zone 10, pre-chilling cloves for 4–8 weeks at 33–40°F help improve bulb formation.
💡 Growing Tips for Success
- Heat Tolerance Advantage: Inchelium Red adapts well to warm climates while still benefiting from a cool vegetative phase.
- Flexible Planting: This variety is very flexible with planting times compared to hardneck types.
- Zone 10 Enhancement: While pre-chilling isn't essential, 4–6 weeks of cold treatment significantly improves bulb formation in very warm zones.
- Easy Maintenance: No escape management is required, making this variety particularly beginner-friendly.
🚨 Common Growing Problems & Solutions
- 🔸 Small Bulbs in Warm Climates:
- ❌ Cause: Insufficient cool period in very warm zones
- ✅ Solution: Pre-chill cloves 4–6 weeks before planting in Zones 9-10
- 🔸 Bulb Wrapper Splitting:
- ❌ Cause: Too much moisture late in the growing season or harvested to late
- ✅ Solution: Reduce watering in the final 1 to 2 weeks before Harvest and or harvest earlier.
- 🔸 Premature Sprouting:
- ❌ Cause: Storage too warm or humid
- ✅ Solution: Store at 33–40°F with good air circulation
- 🔸 Poor Bulb Development:
- ❌ Cause: Planted too late or inadequate nutrition
- ✅ Solution: Plant by zone deadlines, ensure fertile soil
📅 Monthly Growing Calendar
- 🍂 September-October: Plant cloves, apply mulch
- ❄️ November-February: Root development, maintain mulch
- 🌱 March-April: Spring growth, side-dress fertilizer
- 🌿 May-June: Rapid bulb development, consistent watering
- ☀️ July-August: Bulb maturation, reduce watering, Harvest
🧮 Planning Garlic for Large Areas
If you're planting garlic across a big area, you'll need more than just a few bulbs. Here's how much seed garlic you'll need for different garden sizes:
- 🌱 1/4 acre: About 250 lbs of seed garlic
- 🌾 1/2 acre: About 500 lbs
- 🚜 1 acre: About 1000 lbs
Based on 2–6 inch spacing.
🚜 Harvesting and Storage
Whether you're growing for your family or selling at the market, here's what to know about harvesting and storing your Inchelium Red garlic for maximum flavor and shelf life.
Harvest Tips:
- 🌾 When: Late summer to early fall when bulbs are ready when they're full and firm. Look for the bottom two leaves to brown and the rest of the plant to start yellowing.
- 📏 Size Check: Inchelium bulbs typically reach up to 3.5 inches in diameter
- ✂️ How: Use a fork or spade to loosen soil 6–8 inches away from bulbs
- 🧺 Curing: Hang or lay bulbs in a dry, shaded, well-aired space for 3–4 weeks
- 🧊 Storage: Stores up to 9 months thanks to thick bulb wrappers in cool (55–65°F), dark, dry conditions
- 🎨 Braiding: Perfect for braiding when stems are dry but still flexible
Frequently Asked Questions
What growing zones work best for Inchelium Red garlic?
Inchelium Red grows well in USDA Zones 3–9. Unlike hardneck varieties, this softneck garlic Handles heat well, making it a reliable choice for warmer growing regions, including southern states. It's especially popular in California, the Southwest, and the Pacific Northwest.
Can I grow this garlic in hot climates like Texas or Florida?
Yes! Inchelium Red is one of the better choices for warmer climates. It grows well in USDA Zones 3–9 with excellent heat tolerance. While it still benefits from a cool vegetative phase (50–70°F), it adapts well to warm climates and handles the bulbing phase at 75–85°F. Plant in the fall for best results, even in warm zones.
Is garlic safe to eat as well as a plant?
Absolutely! Every bulb we ship is certified organic and food-safe. This is the same award-winning garlic that won the 1990 Rodale Kitchens taste test. Many customers use part of their order for planting and part for cooking.
What makes Inchelium Red special compared to other garlic?
Inchelium Red is the oldest North American garlic strain, grown by Native Americans for over 300 years. It's the only North American garlic in the Slow Food USA Ark of Taste. It won the 1990 national taste test and stores longer than most garlic varieties.
When should I plant Inchelium Red garlic?
Planting time depends on your zone: Zones 4–7 plants late September to mid-October; Zone 8 plants mid-October to early November; Zone 9 plants late October to mid-November; Zone 10 plants November to early December. This variety is very flexible with planting times. In Zone 10, pre-chilling cloves for 4–6 weeks at 32–40°F help improve bulb formation.
How can I find my growing zone?
You can visit the USDA growing zones map to find your zone. Enter your ZIP code to determine if Inchelium Red will thrive in your area. Most zones 3-9 are suitable, with this variety being especially adaptable to various climate conditions.
How is softneck garlic different from hardneck?
Softneck varieties like Inchelium Red don't have a flower stalk and produce more cloves per bulb compared to hardneck types. They're also better for braiding, Store longer, and are more heat-tolerant.
Can I braid Inchelium Red garlic?
Yes! This is one of the best varieties for braiding. The soft, flexible stems make beautiful braided garlic chains that are both decorative and practical for storage.
How long will Inchelium Red garlic store?
Inchelium Red stores well for 6–9 months thanks to its tight, coarse tunics. This is longer than most garlic varieties, making it excellent for year-round use.
What's the difference between seed garlic and culinary garlic?
There's no difference in quality – only in intended use. All our Inchelium Red garlic is certified organic, disease-free, and perfect for planting. You can eat any garlic you don't plant and plant any garlic you don't eat right away.
Why is Inchelium Red in the Ark of Taste?
Inchelium garlic is listed on Slow Food USA's Ark of Taste through the Agricultural Conservation program to increase demand for garlic that was once common and now nearly unknown. We're proud to help preserve this historic American variety.
What's our satisfaction guarantee?
We stand behind our organic garlic quality. If you're not satisfied with your order within 30 days of delivery, contact us with a picture of the damaged product for a replacement or refund. All our garlic is guaranteed to be viable for planting when stored properly.
How do you grow and process garlic at Basaltic Farms?
We grow our garlic in the high-desert climate of the Pacific Northwest using no-till and regenerative methods. Each bulb is hand-harvested, naturally cured, and inspected. We never use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides — so your organic garlic is as clean as it gets.
👩🌾 Why Choose Basaltic Farms' Inchelium Red Garlic?
At Basaltic Farms, we're passionate about preserving America's agricultural heritage. Our Inchelium Red garlic connects you to over 300 years of North American growing tradition while delivering the award-winning taste that made this variety famous. As a certified organic garlic farm in California, we specialize in heirloom varieties.
- 🏆 Award-winning taste – 1990 national taste-test champion
- 🇺🇸 True American heirloom – Oldest North American garlic strain
- 🌋 Grown in volcanic soil for deep flavor and natural vigor
- 🌿 Heat-tolerant variety – Works in more climates than hardnecks
- 🧄 Perfect for braiding – Soft stems make beautiful garlic braids
- 💼 Trusted by chefs – Preferred by restaurants for consistent quality
- 💰 Wholesale & Bulk Options – Premium heirloom garlic at competitive prices
⭐ Customer Reviews
Here's what customers are saying about our Inchelium Red garlic.Read more reviews from growers and chefs who love this award-winning variety.
Customer Reviews
I snagged some organic garlic, and it’s a game-changer! These organic bulbs are bursting with bold, nutty flavor that transforms any recipe
This garlic has a more vibrant or pungent flavor than typical grocery store garlic. The flavor deeply saturates and elevates any dish. The papery skin flakes off so easily and leaves the clove ready to mince without any wasted time having to scratch and pick at it like grocery store garlic clings to the clove. The cloves are large and shiny and easy to mince!
💪 Health Benefits of Inchelium Red Garlic
At Basaltic Farms, we grow garlic with intention — not just for flavor but for its deep "noted health benefits of garlic." Inchelium Red is more than a pantry staple; it's an heirloom softneck variety with a long history of traditional use and modern respect. When grown in our mineral-rich volcanic "soil, this garlic delivers "I've taste and natural functional compounds your body will recognize.
- 🧬 Allicin-Rich – Releases allicin when crushed, a natural compound known for powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties.
- ❤️ Heart-Smart – May support healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels when enjoyed regularly.
- 🛡️ Immune Support – Packed with antioxidants that help protect your cells and strengthen immune defenses.
- �Nature's inflammation is traditionally used to ease inflammation and promote overall wellness.
- 🧠 Cognitive Support – Some studies suggest garlic may help protect brain function as we age.
- 🔥 Nutrient Dense – High in soluble solids for bold flavor and concentrated nutrition — perfect for roasting.
Note: The FDA has not evaluated these statements. Garlic is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
🧄 Nutrition Facts (Per Clove: 3–4g)
Inchelium Red Garlic is packed with allicin, antioxidants, manganese, vitamin B6, and vitamin C. This softneck variety supports immune health, reduces inflammation, and promotes heart health while delivering a rich, mellow flavor that intensifies with storage.
📋 Quick Reference Guide
Planting Checklist:
- ✅ Order by August 15th for guaranteed availability
- ✅ Plant 4–6 weeks before the first frost (varies by zone)
- ✅ Ensure well-draining soil with pH 6.0–7.0
- ✅ Add compost or aged manure before planting
- ✅ Pre-chill cloves 4–6 weeks if in Zones 9-10
- ✅ Plant cloves 2–3 inches deep, pointed end up
- ✅ Space 4–6 inches apart in rows
- ✅ Apply mulch after planting (especially in warm climates)
Growing Season Care:
- ✅ Side-dress with balanced fertilizer in early spring
- ✅ Maintain consistent moisture (but not soggy)
- ✅ Hand weed regularly to avoid competition
- ✅ No scapes to remove (softneck variety)
- ✅ Watch for disease signs and remove affected plants
- ✅ Stop watering 2–3 weeks before Harvest
Harvest & Storage:
- ✅ Harvest when lower leaves brown (usually late summer)
- ✅ Cure in dry, airy space for 3–4 weeks
- ✅ Store in cool (55–65°F), dry, dark conditions
- ✅ Check periodically and use sprouting bulbs first
- ✅ Properly stored garlic lasts 6–9 months