Seed garlic is the term for individual garlic cloves or whole bulbs sold for planting, not for eating — almost all garlic is grown from cloves, not from true botanical seed.
For the full breakdown, see our best Seed Garlic For Sale guide.
If you are searching for “seed garlic” and picturing a packet of tiny, true seeds like those for tomatoes or peppers, you are not alone. The name is the source of most of the confusion around growing garlic. In gardening and farming, “seed garlic” refers to the planting stock — individual cloves from a mature bulb that will each grow into a new head of garlic. True garlic seed, the kind produced by a flower, is rare in cultivated varieties because common garlic is nearly always sterile. So when you buy seed garlic, you are buying a bulb of garlic that you separate, clove by clove, and plant.
Why Garlic Is Grown From Cloves, Not Seeds
Garlic is propagated vegetatively, meaning you grow the next crop from a piece of the parent plant rather than from a seed. Most store-bought and garden-center garlic bulbs are Allium sativum, a species that rarely produces viable seeds. Instead, each bulb divides into 5 to 18 individual cloves underground. Plant a single clove, and one season later, that clove has formed a new, full bulb. The USDA Agricultural Research Service notes that true seed formation is the exception, not the rule, in garlic — it is a normally sexually sterile crop. That is why the term “seed garlic” has become the standard name for planting cloves.
What To Look For When Buying Seed Garlic
The bulbs sold as seed garlic are graded differently than table garlic. Growers choose the largest, healthiest bulbs — often those over 2 inches in diameter — with no soft spots, mold, or pest damage. These bulbs are saved from the best part of the previous harvest and are sometimes tested for garlic bloat nematode and white rot before being sold as seed stock. Hardnecks tend to need more winter chill and produce fewer, larger cloves; softnecks store longer and are the common supermarket type.
How To Store And Prepare Seed Garlic For Planting
Seed garlic has specific storage needs that are different from garlic you plan to eat. The University of Massachusetts and Oregon State University both recommend storing seed garlic at 50°F with 65–70% relative humidity. Do not refrigerate it — refrigerator temperatures around 32°F are for table stock, not planting garlic, because cold storage can trigger sprouting issues or damage the clove’s viability. Keep the bulbs whole until 1 to 2 days before you plant, then break them apart into individual cloves. Plant each clove pointy-end up, about 2 to 3 inches deep and 6 inches apart.
Common Seed Garlic Mistakes
- Confusing true seed with seed garlic. If you are looking for seeds, you are actually looking for planting cloves. True garlic seed exists but is almost never sold to home gardeners.
- Storing seed garlic in the refrigerator. That is for table stock. For planting, keep it at 50°F and moderate humidity, not in the crisper drawer.
- Breaking bulbs apart too early. Once separated, the cloves dry out faster. Wait until 1–2 days before planting.
- Planting supermarket garlic. Some grocery-store bulbs are treated to prevent sprouting or carry diseases that can infect your soil. Certified seed garlic is tested and reliable.
References & Sources
- Oregon State University Extension. “Garlic.” Details hardneck vs. softneck clove counts, storage recommendations, and planting depth for seed garlic.
- University of Massachusetts Amherst. “Garlic.” Covers seed garlic storage conditions at 50°F and 65–70% relative humidity, and differences from table stock storage.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service. “Garlic: The Pungent Perennial.” Explains true garlic seed vs. seed garlic and the rarity of sexual reproduction in garlic.