Red Toch Organic Garlic

Here's what makes Red Toch Garlic from Basaltic Farms special. From Georgian heritage to the perfect balance of flavor, these highlights cover everything you need to know.

• ✅ Certified Organic – CCOF & USDA Certified
• 🇬🇪 Authentic Georgian Heirloom – From the village of Tochliavri
• 🧄 Softneck Garlic – Perfect for braiding with mild, sweet flavor
• 🎨 Red & Pink Streaked Cloves – Beautiful pinkish-red papers
• 🌿 No Scapes – Easy growing with no flower stalks to remove
• 🌱 Non-GMO – Naturally grown heirloom variety
• 📦 Large Bulbs – 2.0"–2.5" diameter with 12–18 cloves per bulb
• 🌾 USDA Zones 5–9 – Good heat and cold tolerance
• 🧊 Long Storage – Stores for 5–7 months in proper conditions
• 🔁 Dual Purpose – Excellent for planting or culinary use
• ⚡ Early Harvest – Matures before other varieties are planted at the same time

• 🏠 Home Gardeners: Easy to grow, early Harvest, beautiful for braiding
• 👨‍🍳 Professional Chefs: Perfect balance - "not too hot, not too mild"
• 🌾 Warm Climate Growers: Good heat tolerance, ideal for southern gardens
• 🎨 Craft & Decor: Stunning red-streaked bulbs, perfect for braiding
• 🏛️ Heritage Gardeners: Preserve authentic Georgian garlic tradition
• 🌡️ Zone 5-9 Gardeners: Versatile variety for multiple climate zones
• 🍽️ Raw Garlic Lovers: Mild flavor perfect for fresh preparations

Not sure how much garlic to order? Whether you're planting garden beds or stocking your kitchen for Georgian cooking, our guide helps you choose the right amount.

• 🌱 1/2 lb – Great for raised beds or weekly cooking (about 2–4 bulbs)
• 🌾 1 lb – Perfect for garden rows or serious cooking (about 4–6 bulbs)
• 🏆 2 lbs – Ideal for large gardens or restaurant use (about 8–12 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. Each plant typically produces one bulb weighing 2–4 oz.

Based on 4–6 inch spacing and average clove size with 60–80 cloves per pound.

Bulk Garlic Orders: Call us at (530) 238-5357

• 🎯 1 lb: Regular price
• 💰 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

• 🚢 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

Red Toch is also known as Tochliavri, and it was named after the small village in the Republic of Georgia where it was originally cultivated. This authentic Georgian heirloom was collected by German scientist Peter Hanelt in 1988 and has become a favorite among garlic enthusiasts worldwide. The famous garlic expert Chester Aaron discovered that his father was born in Tochliavri, making this variety especially meaningful to garlic history.

• Key Details: 🌱 Species: Allium sativum
• 🧄 Type: Softneck, artichoke variety
• 🎨 Appearance: Creamy white bulbs with red & pink streaked cloves
• 🌿 Scapes: No scapes produced
• 🌸 Family: Asparagales, Amaryllidaceae
• 🏷️ Variety Name: Red Toch (Tochliavri)
• 🌍 Origin: Tochliavri village, Republic of Georgia
• 📚 History: Collected by Peter Hanelt in 1988

Red Toch has been praised as having the "perfect garlic taste" with a multidimensional quality and spicy fragrance. Its mild and sweet flavor profile makes it incredibly versatile in the kitchen, especially for those who prefer their garlic raw. The flavor is beautifully balanced - not too hot, not too mild.

• Cooking Info: 🔥 Best Uses: Roasted, sautéed, raw, pickled, fermented
• 👅 Flavor: Mild, sweet, slightly spicy raw, smooth when roasted
• 🌶️ Heat Level: Mild with a mellow spicy tang and fragrant aroma
• 🧊 Shelf Life: 5–7 months for cooking
• ⭐ Special Quality: Ideal for fresh preparations - salads, spreads, pesto
• 🎯 Perfect Balance: "Not too hot, not too mild" - ideal for raw use
• 🍽️ Use: Dual-purpose - perfect for both cooking and planting
• 📦 Storage Notes: 3–6 months in cool, dry, dark space for planting

• 🥄 Russian Root Soup: Traditional recipe with raw garlic, beets, carrots, parsnips
• 🧄 Georgian Garlic Spread: Fresh garlic with herbs on crusty bread
• 🥗 Raw Garlic Salad Dressing: Mild flavor perfect for vinaigrettes
• 🌿 Garlic Pesto: Excellent for mild, fresh pesto preparations
• 🫒 Georgian Garlic Oil: Infuse olive oil with Red Toch's sweet flavor
• 🥒 Pickled Garlic: Traditional preservation method for winter storage

🍷 Perfect Pairings

• 🍇 Georgian Wines: Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, Kisi
• 🧀 Cheese: Georgian Sulguni, fresh goat cheese, cream cheese
• 🌿 Herbs: Cilantro, Dill, Parsley, Mint
• 🥩 Proteins: Lamb, Chicken, Fresh seafood, Vegetarian dishes

Red Toch is easy to grow and matures early, often before other varieties are planted at the same time. This warm-climate softneck variety has good tolerance for milder winters and early heat. We use organic farming methods that keep soil healthy and support natural growth. Whether you're learning how to grow garlic or experienced, Red Toch is an excellent choice for reliable results.

Growing Guide:

• 🏡 Best For: Outdoors, excellent for warm climates
• ☀️ Sunlight: Full sun (6–8 hours daily)
• 🗺️ Zones: USDA 5–9 (good heat and cold tolerance)
• 🌡️ Soil Temp: 50–60°F (10–15°C) ideal for planting
• 🌡️ Growing Temps: Vegetative phase 50–75°F (10–24°C), Bulbing phase 75–85°F (24–29°C)
• ⭐ Climate Notes: Warm-climate softneck with good tolerance for milder winters and early heat
• 🪴 Soil Type: Well-draining, loamy, neutral to slightly acidic pH
• ⏳ Days to Maturity: 210–240 days
• 🧄 Garlic Type: Softneck, no scapes to remove
• 🌰 Cloves per Bulb: 12–18 (generous clove count)
• 📏 Bulb Size: 2.0"–2.5" diameter
• ⚖️ Seed Count: About 4–6 bulbs per lb (60–80 cloves per lb)
• 📐 Spacing: 4–6 inches between cloves
• 💧 Watering: Moderate, consistent 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 (1 clove per pot)
• 🛡️ Disease Resistance: Good resistance to common garlic diseases when grown in well-draining soil

• Zones 5–7: Late September – Mid October
• Zone 8: Mid-October – Early November
• Zone 9: Late October – Mid November
• Zone 10: November – Early December (chilling recommended)

Note: In warm zones, 4–6 weeks of chilling improves consistency and yield.

• Early Harvest Advantage: Red Toch matures earlier than most varieties, giving you fresh garlic sooner in the season.
• Warm Climate Specialist: This variety handles heat better than many garlic types, making it perfect for southern and warm climate gardens.
• Chilling for Zones 9-10: While not absolutely required, pre-chilling cloves for 4–6 weeks at 32–40°F improves bulb formation in very warm zones.

• 🔸 Small Bulbs in Warm Climates:
  • ❌ Cause: Insufficient chilling in 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
  • ✅ Solution: Reduce watering in the final 3–4 weeks before Harvest
• 🔸 Premature Sprouting:
  • ❌ Cause: Storage too warm or humid
  • ✅ Solution: Store at 32–40°F with good air circulation
• 🔸 Poor Bulb Development:
  • ❌ Cause: Planted too late or inadequate nutrition
  • ✅ Solution: Plant by zone deadlines, ensure fertile soil

• 🍂 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: Early Harvest, reduce watering, cure bulbs

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.

Whether you're growing for your family table or selling at farmers' markets, here's what to know about harvesting and storing your Red Toch garlic for maximum flavor and shelf life.

Harvest Tips:

• 🌾 When: Late summer to early fall when several lower leaves turn brown but upper leaves remain green
• 📏 Size Check: Bulbs typically reach 2.0–2.5 inches in diameter
• ⏰ Early Harvest: Matures before other varieties are planted at the same time
• ✂️ How: Loosen soil gently with a fork; avoid pulling stems to reduce bruising
• 🧺 Curing: Hang or lay bulbs in a dry, shaded, well-aired space for 3–4 weeks until the outer skin is papery
• 🧊 Storage: Stores 5–7 months in cool (55–65°F), dark, dry conditions with good air circulation
• 📦 Planting Storage: 3–6 months in cool, dry, dark space for seed purposes
• 🎨 Braiding: Perfect for braiding when stems are dry but still flexible