Where — To Buy Garlic For Planting

Do you prefer (big cloves, scapes) or softneck (braidable, long storage)?

Produces a "scape" (edible flower stalk) and has fewer, larger cloves that are easy to peel. Popular Varieties: Music, German Extra Hardy, Chesnok Red. Softneck Garlic Best for: Milder climates (Zones 7-9). where to buy garlic for planting

Does not produce a scape, stores longer (9-12 months), and has flexible stems that can be braided. Do you prefer (big cloves, scapes) or softneck

Plant in the fall (September to November), about 4–6 weeks before the ground freezes. Softneck Garlic Best for: Milder climates (Zones 7-9)

The gold standard for quality. Growers like Keene Garlic and Natures Garlic Farm offer specific cultivars adapted to different climates.

Store-bought bulbs are not certified disease-free and could introduce soil-borne pathogens like white rot or garlic bloat nematode to your garden.

Specialized seed garlic is bred for vigor and disease resistance.