Growing great garlic is both easy and rewarding for beginning and experienced gardeners alike. When you grow your own, you'll really notice a big difference from store-bought garlic: homegrown garlic is plump, extra crispy and just bursting with flavor.

In most of the country, garlic is planted in the fall by sowing the individual cloves from whole heads of "seed garlic." Each clove will sprout into a plant that resembles a big scallion, then these seedlings are mulched and will overwinter to then grow vigorously the next spring. The plant that grows from each clove will produce a complete full head of garlic at harvest – an always wonderful and rewarding multiplying trick, courtesy of Mother Nature.

Once harvested and properly cured, your garlic bounty will last for months to enjoy for everyday cooking. (In the very cold USDA zones 4 and below, plant garlic in the fall a month before the ground freezes hard). Our garlic stock comes from several small, traditional growers in Oregon and Washington who raise top-quality "seed" garlic heads to sell to other farmers and we are proud to share these fine varieties.

Each is sold in 1/2 lb. quantities, consisting of 3-6 full heads, depending on variety, which you break apart into fat individual cloves of garlic for planting. Worth noting: Allicin, a compound found in raw garlic, has been shown to help reduce high blood pressure and triglycerides. Another plus – the well-known fact that garlic lovers are never, ever bothered by vampires.

• Hardneck Garlic (Allium sativum ophioscorodon): Large cloves grow in a single circle around a woody stem; stronger in flavor and shorter storage than softnecks; plants produce woody stalks or "scapes" that coil from the tops, so heads cannot be braided. Approx. 5-10 cloves per head.

• Softneck Garlic (Allium sativum sativum): Easy to grow plump cloves grow in several layers around a soft central stem. Mild in flavor and the best kind for braiding and longest long term storage. Approx. 8-18 cloves per head.

Garlic is sold in 1/2 lb. bags (3-6 full heads). Varieties are individually priced. Shipping is via USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground; please allow 3 to 5 days for delivery. (UPS 2nd Day delivery option is not available for this product.) Sorry, we cannot ship garlic and shallots to Idaho, Hawaii or Canada.