5 Tips for Keeping Your Seed Garlic Fresh Until Planting Time

Savory, spicy, and pungent, garlic is an easy crop to grow that goes a long way in the kitchen. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, and they are a crop that keeps on giving. Once you have it growing in your garden, you’ll have plenty to plant next year and the one after that. 

Once you’ve ordered and received your seed garlic, it’s important to keep them fresh until planting time. If you leave your seed on the counter, you may end up with a sad situation on your hands in a few months. 

Improper seed storage is a common mistake with this crop. You can take steps between receiving your cloves and planting them to ensure they are fresh when planting time comes around. Preserving their integrity and preventing your cloves from sprouting are the goals we want to achieve. Here are 5 important tips to keep in mind when storing your seeds for painting time. 

Know How Long Your Variety Will Keep

There are hundreds of varieties of garlic sold by as many names. But are there actually hundreds of different types? And how does this affect their storage time? There are closer to ten different DNA-based types and this determines how they react to storage. The ten types are Creole, purple stripe, porcelain, artichoke, glazed purple stripe, turban, Asiatic, marble purple stripe, silverskin, and rocambole.

These 10 types fall into two overarching types: hardneck and softneck. 

Hardneck varieties typically have larger cloves. It is easier to peel and the most flavorful type. They grow best in climates with cold winters. Many chefs prefer to use hardneck varieties because of their potent flavor profile. 

Softneck types are milder in flavor and have many small cloves with thinner skin. They are the best for gardeners in warm winter climates. In general, softneck varieties are more easygoing and tolerant of different growing conditions. They also tend to tolerate longer storage conditions.

If you’ve ordered a softneck variety, you can expect to store most varieties for eight months to a year. Silverskin and Creole varieties can last more than a year with proper care. Most hardneck bulbs will last up to six months if stored correctly, with porcelain types lasting as long as eight months. 

Choose the Right Container

Air circulation is an important factor in choosing the right container for storing your seeds. Mold and fungus can ruin your bulbs, so it’s important to keep them in a container that won’t hold moisture. 

Many retailers make terracotta storage jars made for fresh bulbs. This is an appropriate solution if you are growing a small crop. There are other more economical solutions for storing small or large quantities, as well. 

Plastic mesh bags, wire baskets, or a simple brown paper bag are all appropriate storage solutions. You want to choose a container that allows air to circulate around the seeds. It shouldn’t hold moisture. There is a delicate balance to storing these seeds, particularly when it comes to moisture.

Get the Temperature Right

Temperature is another important factor when keeping your seed garlic fresh. You don’t want them to dehydrate because it’s too warm, and you don’t want them to sprout early because it’s too cold. Garlic germinates at cold temperatures, which is why we don’t store it in the refrigerator. Too much warmth can cause them to dry out and have a lousy germination rate. 

Aim for a temperature between 50-65°F (10-18°C) if possible. This is the sweet spot where your cloves will stay plump and hydrated, but they won’t decide to sprout before it’s time. An unheated garage or closet is a good place to store your cloves during the cooler months.

Measure the Moisture

In addition to the proper storage container and temperature, humidity plays a role in keeping your seed garlic fresh. If the temperature is too high, or the humidity is too low, you will end up with dry, shriveled cloves. These are unlikely to sprout, so you’ll end up with a disappointing harvest. 

To keep your cloves plump and healthy, aim for relative humidity between 45-50%. This is pretty standard for the interior of most homes in the summer, but indoor air in winter is drier. If you need to increase the humidity in your space, a small humidifier should do the trick in this case. They won’t need an excessive amount, and if you overdo it you may end up with mold. 

It’s a good idea to invest in a combination thermometer and humidity sensor for your storage space. If you plan to, or already store a significant number and variety of bulbs for the winter, this is a must-have. It takes all the guesswork out of adjusting the space to your needs. 

Turn Off the Lights

One last bit of advice for storing fresh seed garlic cloves is to keep them in the dark. A brightly lit room is liable to make your seeds start to sprout. If your goal is to store them for an extended period, more than a few weeks, you want to avoid this. Depriving them of light is another step in preventing your seeds from sprouting. This maintains their dormancy.

If you find yourself with sprouted garlic, you can still plant and use it. It will just serve a different purpose in the kitchen. Green garlic, which is the part that grows from the clove, is a delicacy in the kitchen. If you find yourself with sprouted cloves, pop them in a pot and let the green portions grow to about ten inches long before cutting them. Use the shoots as you would use green onions or garlic chives. A little cooking can make a more pungent green milder.