Garlic Seed FAQ

Garlic Ordering & Availability

When is garlic seed available to order?

Garlic seed becomes available in July, after harvest. We post an update on our website and notify our email list when the garlic becomes available. Cover crop seed can be ordered year-round and is shipped separately.

When will I receive my garlic seed?

We start shipping garlic seed in September. Orders are shipped out in the order that they were received.

Do I need to order early?

Yes, we strongly recommend ordering as early as possible. Popular varieties and bulb sizes sell out quickly each fall. Signing up for our email notification list is the best way to know when the garlic is available.

Can I place a pre-order?

Yes, pre-orders of 50 lbs or more can be placed by email or phone rather than through the online store. Take a look at the varieties and pricing beforehand, then email (GarlicBoySeeds@gmail.com) or call (204-330-6484). We typically respond within 1–2 business days.

Do you offer bulk or wholesale pricing?

Yes we offer bulk pricing on all orders. Use the Discount Codes indicated on the website or visit our discounts page for more details.

Garlic Varieties & Sizing

What types of garlic do you grow?

We grow three main types: Porcelain, Purple Stripe, and Rocambole (all hardneck varieties). Some of our most popular varieties are Music, Big Boy, Spanish Roja and Russian Red. These are heritage varieties that have been selected and adapted over many seasons.

What's the difference between hardneck and softneck garlic?

Hardneck varieties (Porcelain, Purple Stripe, Rocambole) have a rigid central stalk that produces a scape, have fewer but larger cloves, and are far better suited to cold climates. Softneck varieties produce no scape, store slightly longer and are what you typically find in grocery stores, but they're less cold-hardy.

How big are the garlic bulbs you sell?

Our bulbs range in size from Medium (1.8") to X-Large (2.5"), but average Large +(2.1"), which is the perfect size for planting.

These are the same-sized bulbs we plant on our own farm.

How much garlic should I order?

On average, every bulb will give you 5 to 7 cloves for planting, meaning you need 4-5 bulbs or 1/2 lb for every 10ft row you want to plant. For larger areas, you need 150-200 bulbs (20-25lbs) per 1000 square feet or 500 feet of row.

How many bulbs are in 1 pound of garlic

Our garlic averages 7-9 bulbs/lb. Bulb size ranges from big mediums to extra-large. One pound can plant approximately 50 square feet.

Garlic Growing & Planting

When should I plant garlic?

Garlic should be planted in fall, typically late September through the end of October. Ideally, you want to plant 4 to 5 weeks before the ground freezes solid. The cloves overwinter under the soil and are harvested the following summer, usually in mid-July to early August, depending on your location.

Should I mulch my garlic in fall?

Yes, we recommend that you mulch your garlic before winter arrives. Straw works best, but grass or leaves also work. This helps protect your cloves from the extreme cold temperatures and fluctuating freeze/thaw cycles. We recommend removing the mulch in early spring to help warm the soil, but some growers prefer to leave the mulch on all growing season.

What growing zones is your garlic suited to?

Our garlic is grown in zone 3 conditions with cold prairie winters, hot summers, and periodic wet/dry cycles. It is well-adapted to zones 2 to 9 across the United States. In regions with cold winters or with poor snow cover, it is highly recommended that mulch be used to insulate the garlic over winter.

Where can I find growing guides?

We have detailed guides covering every stage — soil prep, planting, in-season care, harvesting, and curing and storage. Find them under the Growing Guides menu. We also have lots of great Garlic Growing Articles on our blog.

Can I get personalized growing advice?

Absolutely! We support growers of all sizes, from backyard gardens to small farms. We'll try to help you in any way we can. Reach us at (204) 330-6484 or GarlicBoySeeds@gmail.com. We're often away from the office doing farm work, but typically respond within 1–2 business days.

Returns & Refunds

What if my garlic arrives damaged?

Inspect your order as soon as it arrives. Minor nicks, slightly open wrappers, and small imperfections are normal. If you receive mouldy cloves or a significantly damaged product, contact us within 3 days with a photo, and we will arrange a refund or replacement (subject to availability).

Can I return my order?

Garlic can be returned in its original, undamaged condition within 7 days of receipt. Shipping costs are non-refundable. Returns of garlic are not accepted after October 1st. Please contact us before sending anything back.

Do you guarantee growing results?

We guarantee that your garlic will arrive in good condition. However, we're not responsible for growing results after delivery, as outcomes depend on many variables, including weather, soil, storage, and planting practices.

Cover Crops FAQ

Ordering & Products

Can I order cover crop seed year-round?

Yes, cover crop seed and fertilizer are available for ordering all year, unlike garlic, which is a seasonal and tied to the annual harvest in August.

What cover crop varieties do you carry?

We carry 30+ species across several categories: legumes, clovers, grasses, soil builders, small grains, and pollinator-friendly mixes. We also offer curated garden mixes for smaller-scale use. Browse the full selection in the Cover Crops section of the store.

Choosing the Right Cover Crop Species

What's the difference between a winter-kill and a winter-hardy cover crop?

Winter-kill species (such as oats, sorghum-sudan, phacelia, and most annual legumes like field peas and buckwheat) are killed by hard frost. They're ideal for situations where you want a cover crop that terminates itself over winter, leaving residue on the soil surface without any spring tillage or mowing needed. Winter-hardy species (such as winter rye, hairy vetch, and winter wheat) survive cold temperatures and resume growth in spring. They are ideal for growers who want early green cover in spring. However, these species must be killed before planting a new crop, such as vegetables.

Which cover crops are best for suppressing weeds?

Weed suppression comes from dense, fast canopy closure. Buckwheat is one of the best short-season weed suppressors. It germinates and closes its canopy within 2–3 weeks and is very effective in summer. Oats are quick-growing in cooler temperatures, and Sorghum Sudangrass is aggressive in warm conditions. Fall Rye forms a thick canopy and produces allelopathic compounds that inhibit weed germination. Phacelia establishes quickly and outcompetes many weeds. For garden beds or large garden areas, a dense seeding of an oat/pea mix will shade out most annual weeds within a few weeks of emergence.

Can cover crops attract pollinators?

Yes, flowering cover crops are one of the easiest ways to support pollinators on your property. Our pollinator-friendly mixes include species like phacelia (exceptionally attractive to bees), crimson clover, red clover, white clover, buckwheat, and sweet clover. Phacelia in particular is considered one of the most bee-attractive plants you can grow. Timing matters, so allow cover crops to flower before terminating them if your goal is to support pollinators. Even a small section of garden area left to flower can have a meaningful impact on local pollinator populations.

Are cover crops suitable for home gardens, or just field-scale farming?

Cover crops are absolutely suitable for home gardens. In fact, cover cropping can make one of the biggest differences in a small garden where building soil quality and helping pollinators matters a lot. Common garden applications include planting Buckwheat in empty summer beds to suppress weeds and add organic matter. Seeding a Clover Mix in pathways to fix nitrogen and reduce mud. Sowing Oats or Fall Rye in beds or garden areas to protect soil over winter. We offer garden-sized mixes and sell seed in quantities appropriate for small and large areas. If you're not sure what would work best in your garden or small field, reach out, and we'll answer any questions and help you pick what works for you.

Soil Health & Fertility

Which cover crops are best for building soil organic matter?

High-biomass species are the best organic matter builders. Oats and Annual Ryegrass form large amounts of fibrous root mass and surface residue. Sorghum-Sudangrass (warm season) is one of the most aggressive biomass producers available. Mixing a grass with a legume, for example, oats with field peas or Fall Rye with Hairy Vetch, gives you both bulk organic matter and nitrogen fixation at the same time. For longer-term soil building, perennial Clovers and Grasses left in place for multiple seasons are hard to beat.

Which cover crops help improve my soils drainage, structure and tilth?

The best species for improving soil conditions are called Soil Builders and include Daikon Tilling Radish, Buckwheat, Oats, Fall Rye, Annual Ryegrass, Perennial Ryegrass. All the Clovers and Alfalfa also do an amazing job of growing deep tap roots that help with drainage, open up soils and improve soil structure.

Which cover crops fix nitrogen, and how much can I expect?

Legumes fix atmospheric nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with rhizobium bacteria in their root nodules. Species we carry that fix nitrogen include field peas, crimson clover, red clover, white clover, alsike clover, hairy vetch, alfalfa and sweet clover. Fixation amounts vary widely by species, stand density, growing season length, and whether you use an inoculant. As a rough guide, a good stand of field peas or crimson clover can fix 50–100 lbs of nitrogen per acre in a single season. Hairy vetch and sweet clover can fix even more under ideal conditions.

Planting & Management

When should I seed a cover crop in Spring vs Fall?

It depends on your goal. Spring and summer seeding gives you the full growing season to build biomass and fix nitrogen before terminating in fall. Good spring choices include oats, field peas, phacelia, buckwheat, and clovers. Fall seeding after harvest is very common in the United States. Aim to seed at least 4–6 weeks before a killing frost so the cover crop has time to establish. Winter-kill species like oats and field peas are ideal for late-summer or early fall seeding since they terminate naturally. If you want early spring growth and extra biomass, Fall Rye and hairy vetch can be seeded in late summer through fall and then terminated the following spring or early summer.

Can I mix multiple cover crop species together?

Yes, absolutely! In fact, multi-species mixes are one of the most effective cover cropping strategies. A well-designed mix combines species with different root architectures (taproots vs. fibrous roots), different functions (nitrogen fixers, biomass producers, weed suppressors), and different growth habits to occupy multiple ecological niches at once. One of the most popular mixes is Oats + Field Peas, but there are many possible combinations. Many growers who like to have as much diversity as possible, often mix up to 10 species! On our farm we like mixing between 3 and 5 species.

How do I terminate a cover crop in spring?

Termination method depends on the species and your equipment. For winter-hardy species like Fall Rye or Vetch, common options include tillage, mowing and rolling (for no-till systems). Timing is important, so terminate cereal cover crops like Fall Rye before they reach the heading stage, or else they become harder to kill and tougher to work with. For garden-scale growers, hand-pulling or cutting at the soil line before turning in the residue works well. Chopping with a lawnmower also works. Winter-kill species require no spring termination, and they've already been killed.