Sicilian Artichoke Garlic

Here's what makes Sicilian Artichoke Garlic from Basaltic Farms special. From Mediterranean heritage to exceptional storage life, these highlights cover everything you need to know.

• ✅ Certified Organic – CCOF & USDA Certified
• 🇮🇹 Authentic Sicilian Heirloom – From the rich soils of Sicily
• 🧄 Softneck Garlic – Perfect for braiding with mild to spicy flavor
• 🎨 Purple Streaked Bulbs – Creamy white papers with purple striping
• 🌿 No Scapes – Easy growing with no flower stalks to remove
• 🌱 Non-GMO – Naturally grown heirloom variety
• 📦 Large Bulbs – 2.0"–2.75" diameter with 12–20 cloves per bulb
• 🌾 Heat Tolerant – Works excellently in warm climates, USDA Zones 4–10
• 🧊 Long Storage – Stores up to 9 months in proper conditions
• 🔁 Dual Purpose – Excellent for planting or culinary use
• 🏆 High Yield – Over 1/4 lb bulbs possible

• 🏠 Home Gardeners: Easy to grow, beautiful for braiding, excellent storage
• 👨‍🍳 Mediterranean Chefs: Authentic Sicilian flavor, mild and nutty, smooth when roasted
• 🌾 Warm Climate Growers: Superior heat tolerance, ideal for southern gardens
• 🎨 Craft & Decor: Perfect for braiding, gorgeous purple-streaked bulbs
• 🏛️ Heritage Gardeners: Preserve thousands of years of Mediterranean tradition
• 🌡️ Southern Gardeners: Excellent choice where other varieties struggle
• 🍝 Italian Cooking: Ideal for Amogghio, pasta dishes, and Mediterranean cuisine

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

• 🌱 1/2 lb – Great for raised beds or weekly 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 market growing (about 16–24 bulbs)

Bulb count varies by seasonal size and growing conditions.

Expected Yield: 1 lb of seed garlic gives you about 8–12 lbs of harvest under good conditions. Each plant typically produces 1 bulb weighing 2–4 oz.

Based on 4–6 inch spacing and average clove size with 60–90 cloves per pound.

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

💰 Bulk Pricing Available

• 🎯 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 similar artichoke variety (with your permission)
• 🏠 Minimum Orders: No minimum for retail, 25 lb minimum for wholesale pricing

Sicilian Artichoke is a true Mediterranean treasure with roots in Southern Italy and Central Asia. Humans have been growing this mild-to-spicy variety for thousands of years. Its history is rich with ancient trade route stories. This heirloom has gorgeous purple striping on crisp white papers and delivers exceptional versatility in the kitchen. We grow it on our certified organic California farm using traditional methods.

Key Details:

• 🌱 Species: Allium sativum
• 🧄 Type: Softneck, artichoke variety
• 🌍 Origin: Sicily and Central Asia
• 📚 Historic Status: Ancient Mediterranean heirloom
• 🎨 Appearance: Creamy white with purple streaking
• 🌸 Family: Asparagales, Amaryllidaceae
• 🏷️ Variety Name: Sicilian Artichoke
• ⏰ Cultivation History: Thousands of years

Sicilian Artichoke delivers a mild to spicy flavor that's incredibly versatile in Mediterranean cuisine. This variety shines both fresh and cooked, making it perfect for traditional Sicilian dishes. Try it in Amogghio (classic Sicilian salsa) for an authentic taste of the Mediterranean. The flavor can vary with growing conditions, giving you a unique garlic experience each season.

Cooking Info:

• 🔥 Best Uses: Roasted, sautéed, raw, pickled, fermented.
• 👅 Flavor: Mild, rich, slightly nutty, smooth when roasted.
• 🌶️ Raw vs Cooked: Sharper when raw, mellow and sweet when roasted or sautéed.
• 🧊 Shelf Life: 6–9 months for cooking.
• 🌿 Scapes: Not applicable (no scapes).
• 🍷 Wine Pairing: Excellent with Sicilian wines like Nero d'Avola or Grillo.
• 🥒 Preservation: Perfect for garlic oil infusions, pickling, and fermentation.
• ⭐ Special Quality: Dual-purpose - perfect for both cooking and planting.
• 🎯 Clove Size: Well-balanced cloves, excellent uniformity.
• 🍽️ Mediterranean Use: Excellent in Italian and Sicilian recipes.
• 📦 Storage Notes: 3–6 months in cool, dry, dark space for planting.

• 🧄 Amogghio (Sicilian Garlic Salsa): Perfect summer condiment for BBQ
• 🍝 Aglio e Olio: Classic Italian pasta with garlic and olive oil
• 🔥 Roasted Garlic: Sweet, mellow flavor perfect for spreading
• 🫒 Sicilian Garlic Oil: Infuse olive oil for drizzling over vegetables
• 🎨 Garlic Braids: Beautiful kitchen decoration that's also functional
• 🥒 Pickled Garlic: Traditional preservation method extending shelf life

🍷 Perfect Pairings

• 🍇 Sicilian Wines: Nero d'Avola, Grillo, Carricante
• 🧀 Cheese: Pecorino Siciliano, Ricotta Salata
• 🌿 Herbs: Oregano, Basil, Rosemary
• 🥩 Proteins: Seafood, Lamb, Pork

Sicilian Artichoke garlic is easy to grow and exceptionally heat tolerant. It thrives in well-draining soil with lots of organic matter. This softneck variety is a heavy producer that works well in various climates, especially warm regions. We use organic farming methods that keep soil healthy and support natural growth. Whether you're learning how to grow garlic or experienced, Sicilian Artichoke is an excellent choice for reliable, high-yield results.

Growing Guide:

• 🏡 Best For: Outdoors, excellent for warm climates
• ☀️ Sunlight: Full sun (6+ hours daily)
• 🗺️ Zones: USDA 4–10 (excellent heat tolerance, fair cold tolerance)
• 🌡️ Soil Temp: 50–60°F (10–15°C) ideal for planting
• 🌡️ Growing Temps: Vegetative phase 55–75°F (13–24°C), Bulbing phase 75–85°F (24–29°C)
• ⚠️ Heat Notes: Handles higher temperatures early on better than most varieties
• 🌡️ Climate: Ideal for warm climates with short cool seasons
• 🪴 Soil Type: Well-draining, loamy, neutral to slightly acidic pH
• ⏳ Days to Maturity: 210–240 days (fall planting)
• 🧄 Garlic Type: Softneck, no scapes to remove
• 🌰 Cloves per Bulb: 12–20 (generous clove count)
• 📏 Bulb Size: 2.0"–2.75" diameter
• ⚖️ Seed Count: About 4–6 bulbs per lb (60–90 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 at planting and side-dressing mid-season
• 🌾 Mulching: Recommended in warm climates to retain moisture and regulate soil temperature
• 💧 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

📅 Zone-Specific Planting Windows

• 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 optional)

Note: Excellent for warm climates. Later planting in Zone 10 is fine without chilling, but it may help yield.

• Heat Tolerance Champion: Sicilian Artichoke handles higher temperatures early in growth better than most garlic varieties, making it perfect for warm climates.
• Warm Climate Specialist: This variety is ideal for warm climates with short cool seasons where other varieties might struggle.
• Optional Chilling: While pre-chilling isn't required, 4–6 weeks of cold treatment can improve yields in Zone 10.
• High Yield Potential: With proper care, bulbs can exceed 1/4 lb, making this variety excellent for market growers.

• 🔸 Small Bulbs in Very Hot Climates:
  • ❌ Cause: Extremely high temperatures during bulb development
  • ✅ Solution: Provide afternoon shade or mulch heavily to regulate soil temperature
• 🔸 Bulb Wrapper Splitting:
  • ❌ Cause: Excessive moisture late in growing season
  • ✅ Solution: Reduce watering in 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 Root Development:
  • ❌ Cause: Planted in compacted or poorly draining soil
  • ✅ Solution: Improve soil drainage and add organic matter before planting

📅 Monthly Growing Calendar

• 🍂 September-October: Plant cloves, apply mulch for temperature regulation
• ❄️ November-February: Root establishment, maintain mulch
• 🌱 March-April: Spring growth, side-dress with fertilizer
• 🌿 May-June: Rapid bulb development, maintain consistent watering
• ☀️ July-August: Bulb maturation, reduce watering, harvest

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 Sicilian Artichoke garlic for maximum flavor and shelf life.

Harvest Tips:

• 🌾 When: Late summer to early fall when 50–75% of leaves are half green and half brown.
• 📏 Size Check: Bulbs typically reach 2.0–2.75 inches in diameter.
• ⚖️ Weight: Can produce large, substantial bulbs under good conditions.
• ✂️ How: Use a fork to loosen soil 6–8 inches away from bulbs.
• 🧺 Curing: Hang or lay bulbs in dry, shaded, well-aired space for 3–4 weeks.
• 🎯 Proper Curing Signs: Outer skins papery, roots completely dry and brittle.
• 🌡️ Curing Conditions: 60–70% humidity, 75–85°F temperature, good airflow.
• 🎨 Braiding: Perfect for braiding when stems are dry but still flexible.
• 🧊 Storage: Stores 6–9 months in cool (55–65°F), dark, dry conditions.
• 📦 Storage Containers: Mesh bags, baskets, or braids - avoid plastic bags.