Garlic Gods moved to Tennessee!
Pre-Orders will open in April and begin shipping in September 2026 for fall planting.
Some of our garlic varieties have changed
Because of the move to Tennessee, we will no longer be able to ship garlic to Idaho's quarantined counties. For more information please read this blog post.
Garlic Gods are Tennessee-based family garlic farmers specializing in premium seed garlic for home gardeners, homesteaders, and market growers across the United States. We offer hardneck and softneck garlic varieties selected for flavor, storage life, climate adaptability, and garden performance — shipped from eastern Tennessee every fall.
We grow for every zone. Our seed garlic performs across USDA zones 3–10, from the coldest winters of Minnesota and Alaska to the mild climates of the Southeast and Pacific Coast.
We begin shipping nationwide in September. Seed garlic ships in the order received, timed for fall planting — delivered direct to your door. Every order includes storage instructions so your garlic stays in optimal condition until your region is ready to plant.
Hardneck or softneck? Hardneck varieties thrive in cold winters (zones 3–8) and deliver bold, complex flavor. Softneck varieties excel in mild winters (zones 6–10) and store longer. Not sure which is right for you? Find your variety →
Why Garlic Gods? We select every variety for flavor, cold hardiness, disease resistance, and garden performance. No filler. No grocery store rejects. Just exceptional seed garlic, grown with care.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is seed garlic?
Seed garlic is garlic grown specifically for replanting — not for eating. It's selected for size, health, and variety purity. Planting seed garlic (rather than grocery store garlic) gives you disease-free stock with known variety characteristics and reliable performance in your garden.
Can I plant grocery store garlic?
Technically yes, but we don't recommend it. Grocery store garlic is often treated to suppress sprouting, may carry disease, and is almost never labeled by variety. Seed garlic gives you a known variety, clean stock, and predictable results.
Hardneck vs. softneck garlic — what's the difference?
Hardneck garlic produces a rigid central stalk (the scape), has fewer but larger cloves, and delivers bolder, more complex flavor. It thrives in cold winters (zones 3–8). Softneck garlic has no central stalk, produces more cloves per bulb, stores longer (up to 12 months), and performs best in mild winters (zones 6–10).
What garlic grows best in cold climates?
Hardneck varieties are your best choice for zones 3–6. Our top picks for cold climates are Music (Porcelain), Russian Red (Marbled Purple Stripe), German Red (Rocambole), and Italian Red (Porcelain) — all rated to zone 3.
What garlic grows best in warm climates?
Softneck and Creole varieties perform best in zones 6–10. Our top picks for warm climates are Inchelium Red, Messedor, Castano, and Morado — a Spanish Creole variety with very low vernalization requirements, ideal for the Deep South and Southern California.
When should I plant garlic?
Plant garlic in fall, 4–6 weeks before your first hard freeze, when soil temperatures drop to 50–60°F. In most of the US, that means September through November depending on your zone. We've written a complete regional planting guide for every state in the country — find your state at Garlic Growing by State →
How much garlic do I need to plant?
One pound of seed garlic typically yields 30–50 cloves depending on variety, which plants approximately 30–50 square feet. A standard 4×8 raised bed takes about 1–1.5 lbs of seed garlic. For a serious home garden, 3–5 lbs is a great starting point.
Does garlic come back every year?
Garlic is an annual — it completes its full life cycle in one season and must be replanted each fall. Many gardeners choose to refresh their seed stock each year to maintain variety quality, bulb size, and garden performance over time.
What garlic stores the longest?
Softneck artichoke varieties store the longest — up to 9–12 months under good conditions. Inchelium Red and Messedor are our top picks for long storage. Hardneck varieties typically store 4–6 months.
What garlic has the strongest flavor?
Rocambole hardnecks like German Red are widely regarded as the most complex and richly flavored. For raw heat and intensity, Korean Red (Asiatic) and Morado (Creole) deliver the boldest punch. Music (Porcelain) offers a bold, well-rounded flavor that's excellent for everyday cooking.
Variety Comparison Guide
| Variety | Type | Flavor | Heat | Storage | Best Zones | Cloves/Bulb |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Music | Porcelain Hardneck | Rich, bold | Medium | 5–6 months | 3–8 | 4–6 |
| German Red | Rocambole Hardneck | Complex, savory | Medium-high | 4–5 months | 3–8 | 8–12 |
| Chesnok Red | Purple Stripe Hardneck | Sweet, great for roasting | Medium | 5–6 months | 3–8 | 8–12 |
| Russian Red | Marbled Purple Stripe Hardneck | Full, rich | Medium-high | 5–6 months | 3–8 | 5–8 |
| Korean Red | Asiatic Hardneck | Intense, spicy | Very high | 4–5 months | 3–8 | 8–10 |
| Italian Red | Porcelain Hardneck | Bold, hot | High | 5–6 months | 3–8 | 4–6 |
| Persian Star | Purple Stripe Hardneck | Rich, complex | Medium | 5–6 months | 3–8 | 8–12 |
| Inchelium Red | Artichoke Softneck | Mild, balanced | Low-medium | 9–10 months | 6–10 | 10–15 |
| Messedor | Artichoke Softneck | Mild, clean | Low | 9–10 months | 6–10 | 12–16 |
| Castano | Artichoke Softneck | Savory, rich | Medium | 8–10 months | 6–10 | 12–18 |
| Morado | Creole | Intense, complex | High | 9–12 months | 6–10 | 8–12 |
Hardneck and Softneck Seed Garlic
The "neck" refers to the stalk that grows out of the ground, upwards, from the bulb. Hardneck garlics have a "stalk" (scape) that stems from the center of the bulb and turns rigid at maturity. Softneck stalks are made up of leaves and remain soft and flexible at maturity.
Softneck garlics are largely adaptable and grow well in warm and southern climates as they are not cold hardy. Softnecks can grow well in USDA hardiness zones 6-10, but may require mulch in cold areas. Softnecks also store very well, lasting 9-12 months when properly cured and stored. There are more cloves in each bulb with two layers, some small and some large. While all cloves can be planted, we suggest planting the large cloves first and if you have remaining space plant the smaller cloves.
Hardneck garlics tend to grow best in colder climates, as they are very winter hardy. Hardnecks can grow well in USDA hardiness zones 3-8 and are not suggested in warmer climates. Hardnecks produce scapes, which if left on the plant will eventually flower. These bulbs are typically easier to peel and are more flavorful than softnecks. With fewer and larger cloves per head than softneck garlics. Hardneck garlics do not have as long of a shelf life and typically store between 4 and 6 months.
Garlic Grown With Love
hand weeded, hand harvested, hand cleaned, and hand packaged by garlic farmers!