Planting Guide and Seed Saving notes for Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum)

First cultivated in Egypt over 6,000 years ago, today we consume more than 250 million pounds annually! Much experimentation is being done with growing garlic from seed, a somewhat tricky process. Most garlic is grown from cloves, a method of asexual reproduction that produces clones of the original bulb.

Nutrients: vitamins C (high), B6, E and K, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin.

How to Grow Garlic from Bulbs

Bed Preparation

Hoe or till the planting bed a few weeks before planting to kill any weeds. Hoe again at planting time. If your soil is heavy or your region is prone to a rainy spring, create hills or raised beds for planting. This allows for better drainage.

Planting

Garlic can bruise easily, so be very gentle when handling the bulbs during planting, harvest, and storage. Store your garlic in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. For most parts of the US, you should plant your seed garlic in October. If you are very far north, you may need to plant mid-Sept. If you are very far south, it may be December or January. You should check with your local Agricultural Extension Office for information about the best planting time for your region. When you receive your seed garlic it will either be as loose cloves or whole bulbs. If it is whole bulbs, then you want to “pop” the cloves. This means removing the outer paper and separating the individual cloves. Don’t unwrap each clove, although if the clove skin comes off, it’s still fine to plant. Lightly squeeze the bulb to check for damage or softness – if you find some, those cloves should not be planted. With any garlic bulb there are always 1 to 3 naturally occurring very small cloves. Only plant the big fat ones for bulbs and save the little ones for eating. You could also plant them close together and harvest early as garlic scallions. Plant them pointy-end up/root-end down about 2” deep, spaced about 5” apart. You can choose to mulch heavily for the winter. This will help prevent weeds and reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation by keeping in soil moisture. Garlic benefits from a good all-around fertilizer mixed in with the soil at planting time. Ideally, use a slow-release granulated formula that will gradually feed the bulbs through the winter. A second top dressing in the early spring, before leaf growth begins, will give the plants an extra boost.

Harvest

Hardneck Garlic

Harvest the scape in spring by snapping off the tendril at the point where it comes out of the plant stalk. Do not let the plant flower or it will reduce the bulb size. Pull bulbs when there are only 5 or 6 green leaves left on the plant. Don’t wait too long or the bulb will begin to split!

Softneck Garlic

These grow well in a wide variety of climates, producing large bulbs with many cloves that can range from mild to spicy depending on variety and growing season. Plants grow soft stalks that can be braided for storage. Pull bulbs when there are 5 green leaves left. (Softneck garlic does not produce a scape).

Elephant Garlic

Sometimes the plants make a flower stalk – snap that off if it appears. Pull bulbs when the edges of the leaves begin to brown but are still quite green. 

How to save Garlic Bulbs

Select the largest, healthiest bulbs for seed stock. Don’t use any discolored or soft bulbs. Do not wash garlic at harvest time! Instead, just brush off whatever soil is stuck to the bulbs and let the rest dry on the plant. Store the whole plants in a cool dry place with good air flow, either laid out flat or hanging in small bunches. Good air flow is very important to prevent mold. After about 6 weeks, when the plants are thoroughly dry, clip the stalk and trim the roots. Replant in the fall to harvest again the following year.

• Shipping and Handling Costs
• Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
• Refund Policy
• Security Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Photo Policy

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy 

Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday. 

All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. USPS First Class (under 1 pound) transit time 5-6 business days. USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1lb and over)  transit time 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground (depending on what you chose in check out), it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. All transit times varies by season. If you want to receive tracking information please provide an email when placing your order, tracking information is sent via email. If you require expedited shipping please call us at 828-254-0708.

Pre-Order/ Seasonal Items: 

If your order contains a Pre-Order/ Seasonal item(s), example: Garlic, Shallots, Seed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., they will be shipped during the season those items are available. Seasonal Items will be shipped and available based on South East planting times. If your order has both Pre-Order / Seasonal items and seed packets, cover crops, etc., Pre-Order items will NOT delay the other items in your order from being shipped. Those NON Pre-Order/ Seasonal items (seed packets, cover crops, etc.) will be shipped within 3-4 business days, and the Pre-Order/ Seasonal items will ship out separately as they become available based on South East planting times. 

Local Pick-Up: 

If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order, instead of paying shipping, you can select local pick up in your cart. Please provide a phone number and (or) email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow 2-3 days to process local pick up orders during peak season (Januray-April). If you do NOT live in North Carolina, for example you live in Johnson City, Tennessee and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, please put our address as the shipping address:

Sow True Seed 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801

If you do not use a North Carolina shipping address it will not allow you to select local pick up. 

Return to Top

Refund Policy

We rigorously test our seed two times a year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable as long as it is stored correctly. We never sell seed that does not meet the Federal standards of germination. For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed, but if for any reason your seed does not germinate within the sell-by date, we will gladly replace the seed. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints.

Return to Top

Security Policy

Your payment and personal information is always safe.  Our Secure Sockets Layer software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions.  It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

Return to Top

Privacy Policy

We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy.  We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site.  We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the pages you visited.  We will never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, ever.

Return to Top

Photo Policy

TERMS FOR IMAGE RIGHTS - these things always sound scary, but basically we enjoyed your photo and would love to use it so other people can see what our seeds can become! We'd love to do that without getting in trouble, so being that we live in a crazy world, here are a few terms:

If you agree to permit us to use the photograph, we will need you to agree to a few terms. The terms are as follows:

• I represent and warrant that I am the individual that submitted the referenced photograph (“Photograph”). Further, I confirm that any other individuals shown in the Photograph have agreed to be included and permitted me to agree to these terms on their behalf and agreed to the license granted here or that I am authorized to agree on their behalf.
• I represent and warrant that the Photograph is my own original work, and that the Photograph does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third-party, including but not limited to rights of copyright, trademark, publicity and/or privacy.
• Further, I confirm that I am granting Sow True Seed, 146 Church St, Asheville NC 28801 a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, fully-paid license to edit, display, reproduce, modify, use, and distribute the Photograph (in whole or in part).
• To that end, I agree to indemnify Sow True Seed against any claims made by individuals pictured in the Photograph, any claims pertaining to copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property law violations, and any claims by individuals that may contest Sow True Seed’s right to use the Photograph as described above.
• I understand and agree that this is a complete RELEASE and DISCHARGE of all or any claims and rights that I may have against Sow True Seed and that no action will be taken by me or on my behalf with respect to any such rights, it being understood that this Release shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, and administrators.

Return to Top

Planting Guide and Seed Saving notes for Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum)

First cultivated in Egypt over 6,000 years ago, today we consume more than 250 million pounds annually! Much experimentation is being done with growing garlic from seed, a somewhat tricky process. Most garlic is grown from cloves, a method of asexual reproduction that produces clones of the original bulb.

Nutrients: vitamins C (high), B6, E and K, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin.

How to Grow Garlic from Bulbs

Bed Preparation

Hoe or till the planting bed a few weeks before planting to kill any weeds. Hoe again at planting time. If your soil is heavy or your region is prone to a rainy spring, create hills or raised beds for planting. This allows for better drainage.

Planting

Garlic can bruise easily, so be very gentle when handling the bulbs during planting, harvest, and storage. Store your garlic in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. For most parts of the US, you should plant your seed garlic in October. If you are very far north, you may need to plant mid-Sept. If you are very far south, it may be December or January. You should check with your local Agricultural Extension Office for information about the best planting time for your region. When you receive your seed garlic it will either be as loose cloves or whole bulbs. If it is whole bulbs, then you want to “pop” the cloves. This means removing the outer paper and separating the individual cloves. Don’t unwrap each clove, although if the clove skin comes off, it’s still fine to plant. Lightly squeeze the bulb to check for damage or softness – if you find some, those cloves should not be planted. With any garlic bulb there are always 1 to 3 naturally occurring very small cloves. Only plant the big fat ones for bulbs and save the little ones for eating. You could also plant them close together and harvest early as garlic scallions. Plant them pointy-end up/root-end down about 2” deep, spaced about 5” apart. You can choose to mulch heavily for the winter. This will help prevent weeds and reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation by keeping in soil moisture. Garlic benefits from a good all-around fertilizer mixed in with the soil at planting time. Ideally, use a slow-release granulated formula that will gradually feed the bulbs through the winter. A second top dressing in the early spring, before leaf growth begins, will give the plants an extra boost.

Harvest

Hardneck Garlic

Harvest the scape in spring by snapping off the tendril at the point where it comes out of the plant stalk. Do not let the plant flower or it will reduce the bulb size. Pull bulbs when there are only 5 or 6 green leaves left on the plant. Don’t wait too long or the bulb will begin to split!

Softneck Garlic

These grow well in a wide variety of climates, producing large bulbs with many cloves that can range from mild to spicy depending on variety and growing season. Plants grow soft stalks that can be braided for storage. Pull bulbs when there are 5 green leaves left. (Softneck garlic does not produce a scape).

Elephant Garlic

Sometimes the plants make a flower stalk – snap that off if it appears. Pull bulbs when the edges of the leaves begin to brown but are still quite green. 

How to save Garlic Bulbs

Select the largest, healthiest bulbs for seed stock. Don’t use any discolored or soft bulbs. Do not wash garlic at harvest time! Instead, just brush off whatever soil is stuck to the bulbs and let the rest dry on the plant. Store the whole plants in a cool dry place with good air flow, either laid out flat or hanging in small bunches. Good air flow is very important to prevent mold. After about 6 weeks, when the plants are thoroughly dry, clip the stalk and trim the roots. Replant in the fall to harvest again the following year.

• Shipping and Handling Costs
• Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
• Refund Policy
• Security Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Photo Policy

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy 

Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday. 

All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. USPS First Class (under 1 pound) transit time 5-6 business days. USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1lb and over)  transit time 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground (depending on what you chose in check out), it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. All transit times varies by season. If you want to receive tracking information please provide an email when placing your order, tracking information is sent via email. If you require expedited shipping please call us at 828-254-0708.

Pre-Order/ Seasonal Items: 

If your order contains a Pre-Order/ Seasonal item(s), example: Garlic, Shallots, Seed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., they will be shipped during the season those items are available. Seasonal Items will be shipped and available based on South East planting times. If your order has both Pre-Order / Seasonal items and seed packets, cover crops, etc., Pre-Order items will NOT delay the other items in your order from being shipped. Those NON Pre-Order/ Seasonal items (seed packets, cover crops, etc.) will be shipped within 3-4 business days, and the Pre-Order/ Seasonal items will ship out separately as they become available based on South East planting times. 

Local Pick-Up: 

If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order, instead of paying shipping, you can select local pick up in your cart. Please provide a phone number and (or) email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow 2-3 days to process local pick up orders during peak season (Januray-April). If you do NOT live in North Carolina, for example you live in Johnson City, Tennessee and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, please put our address as the shipping address:

Sow True Seed 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801

If you do not use a North Carolina shipping address it will not allow you to select local pick up. 

Return to Top

Refund Policy

We rigorously test our seed two times a year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable as long as it is stored correctly. We never sell seed that does not meet the Federal standards of germination. For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed, but if for any reason your seed does not germinate within the sell-by date, we will gladly replace the seed. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints.

Return to Top

Security Policy

Your payment and personal information is always safe.  Our Secure Sockets Layer software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions.  It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

Return to Top

Privacy Policy

We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy.  We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site.  We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the pages you visited.  We will never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, ever.

Return to Top

Photo Policy

TERMS FOR IMAGE RIGHTS - these things always sound scary, but basically we enjoyed your photo and would love to use it so other people can see what our seeds can become! We'd love to do that without getting in trouble, so being that we live in a crazy world, here are a few terms:

If you agree to permit us to use the photograph, we will need you to agree to a few terms. The terms are as follows:

• I represent and warrant that I am the individual that submitted the referenced photograph (“Photograph”). Further, I confirm that any other individuals shown in the Photograph have agreed to be included and permitted me to agree to these terms on their behalf and agreed to the license granted here or that I am authorized to agree on their behalf.
• I represent and warrant that the Photograph is my own original work, and that the Photograph does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third-party, including but not limited to rights of copyright, trademark, publicity and/or privacy.
• Further, I confirm that I am granting Sow True Seed, 146 Church St, Asheville NC 28801 a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, fully-paid license to edit, display, reproduce, modify, use, and distribute the Photograph (in whole or in part).
• To that end, I agree to indemnify Sow True Seed against any claims made by individuals pictured in the Photograph, any claims pertaining to copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property law violations, and any claims by individuals that may contest Sow True Seed’s right to use the Photograph as described above.
• I understand and agree that this is a complete RELEASE and DISCHARGE of all or any claims and rights that I may have against Sow True Seed and that no action will be taken by me or on my behalf with respect to any such rights, it being understood that this Release shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, and administrators.

Return to Top

Planting Guide and Seed Saving notes for Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum)

First cultivated in Egypt over 6,000 years ago, today we consume more than 250 million pounds annually! Much experimentation is being done with growing garlic from seed, a somewhat tricky process. Most garlic is grown from cloves, a method of asexual reproduction that produces clones of the original bulb.

Nutrients: vitamins C (high), B6, E and K, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin.

How to Grow Garlic from Bulbs

Bed Preparation

Hoe or till the planting bed a few weeks before planting to kill any weeds. Hoe again at planting time. If your soil is heavy or your region is prone to a rainy spring, create hills or raised beds for planting. This allows for better drainage.

Planting

Garlic can bruise easily, so be very gentle when handling the bulbs during planting, harvest, and storage. Store your garlic in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. For most parts of the US, you should plant your seed garlic in October. If you are very far north, you may need to plant mid-Sept. If you are very far south, it may be December or January. You should check with your local Agricultural Extension Office for information about the best planting time for your region. When you receive your seed garlic it will either be as loose cloves or whole bulbs. If it is whole bulbs, then you want to “pop” the cloves. This means removing the outer paper and separating the individual cloves. Don’t unwrap each clove, although if the clove skin comes off, it’s still fine to plant. Lightly squeeze the bulb to check for damage or softness – if you find some, those cloves should not be planted. With any garlic bulb there are always 1 to 3 naturally occurring very small cloves. Only plant the big fat ones for bulbs and save the little ones for eating. You could also plant them close together and harvest early as garlic scallions. Plant them pointy-end up/root-end down about 2” deep, spaced about 5” apart. You can choose to mulch heavily for the winter. This will help prevent weeds and reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation by keeping in soil moisture. Garlic benefits from a good all-around fertilizer mixed in with the soil at planting time. Ideally, use a slow-release granulated formula that will gradually feed the bulbs through the winter. A second top dressing in the early spring, before leaf growth begins, will give the plants an extra boost.

Harvest

Hardneck Garlic

Harvest the scape in spring by snapping off the tendril at the point where it comes out of the plant stalk. Do not let the plant flower or it will reduce the bulb size. Pull bulbs when there are only 5 or 6 green leaves left on the plant. Don’t wait too long or the bulb will begin to split!

Softneck Garlic

These grow well in a wide variety of climates, producing large bulbs with many cloves that can range from mild to spicy depending on variety and growing season. Plants grow soft stalks that can be braided for storage. Pull bulbs when there are 5 green leaves left. (Softneck garlic does not produce a scape).

Elephant Garlic

Sometimes the plants make a flower stalk – snap that off if it appears. Pull bulbs when the edges of the leaves begin to brown but are still quite green. 

How to save Garlic Bulbs

Select the largest, healthiest bulbs for seed stock. Don’t use any discolored or soft bulbs. Do not wash garlic at harvest time! Instead, just brush off whatever soil is stuck to the bulbs and let the rest dry on the plant. Store the whole plants in a cool dry place with good air flow, either laid out flat or hanging in small bunches. Good air flow is very important to prevent mold. After about 6 weeks, when the plants are thoroughly dry, clip the stalk and trim the roots. Replant in the fall to harvest again the following year.

• Shipping and Handling Costs
• Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
• Refund Policy
• Security Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Photo Policy

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy 

Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday. 

All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. USPS First Class (under 1 pound) transit time 5-6 business days. USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1lb and over)  transit time 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground (depending on what you chose in check out), it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. All transit times varies by season. If you want to receive tracking information please provide an email when placing your order, tracking information is sent via email. If you require expedited shipping please call us at 828-254-0708.

Pre-Order/ Seasonal Items: 

If your order contains a Pre-Order/ Seasonal item(s), example: Garlic, Shallots, Seed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., they will be shipped during the season those items are available. Seasonal Items will be shipped and available based on South East planting times. If your order has both Pre-Order / Seasonal items and seed packets, cover crops, etc., Pre-Order items will NOT delay the other items in your order from being shipped. Those NON Pre-Order/ Seasonal items (seed packets, cover crops, etc.) will be shipped within 3-4 business days, and the Pre-Order/ Seasonal items will ship out separately as they become available based on South East planting times. 

Local Pick-Up: 

If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order, instead of paying shipping, you can select local pick up in your cart. Please provide a phone number and (or) email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow 2-3 days to process local pick up orders during peak season (Januray-April). If you do NOT live in North Carolina, for example you live in Johnson City, Tennessee and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, please put our address as the shipping address:

Sow True Seed 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801

If you do not use a North Carolina shipping address it will not allow you to select local pick up. 

Return to Top

Refund Policy

We rigorously test our seed two times a year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable as long as it is stored correctly. We never sell seed that does not meet the Federal standards of germination. For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed, but if for any reason your seed does not germinate within the sell-by date, we will gladly replace the seed. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints.

Return to Top

Security Policy

Your payment and personal information is always safe.  Our Secure Sockets Layer software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions.  It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

Return to Top

Privacy Policy

We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy.  We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site.  We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the pages you visited.  We will never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, ever.

Return to Top

Photo Policy

TERMS FOR IMAGE RIGHTS - these things always sound scary, but basically we enjoyed your photo and would love to use it so other people can see what our seeds can become! We'd love to do that without getting in trouble, so being that we live in a crazy world, here are a few terms:

If you agree to permit us to use the photograph, we will need you to agree to a few terms. The terms are as follows:

• I represent and warrant that I am the individual that submitted the referenced photograph (“Photograph”). Further, I confirm that any other individuals shown in the Photograph have agreed to be included and permitted me to agree to these terms on their behalf and agreed to the license granted here or that I am authorized to agree on their behalf.
• I represent and warrant that the Photograph is my own original work, and that the Photograph does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third-party, including but not limited to rights of copyright, trademark, publicity and/or privacy.
• Further, I confirm that I am granting Sow True Seed, 146 Church St, Asheville NC 28801 a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, fully-paid license to edit, display, reproduce, modify, use, and distribute the Photograph (in whole or in part).
• To that end, I agree to indemnify Sow True Seed against any claims made by individuals pictured in the Photograph, any claims pertaining to copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property law violations, and any claims by individuals that may contest Sow True Seed’s right to use the Photograph as described above.
• I understand and agree that this is a complete RELEASE and DISCHARGE of all or any claims and rights that I may have against Sow True Seed and that no action will be taken by me or on my behalf with respect to any such rights, it being understood that this Release shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, and administrators.

Return to Top

• Shipping and Handling Costs
• Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
• Refund Policy
• Security Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Photo Policy

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy 

Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday. 

All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. USPS First Class (under 1 pound) transit time 5-6 business days. USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1lb and over)  transit time 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground (depending on what you chose in check out), it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. All transit times varies by season. If you want to receive tracking information please provide an email when placing your order, tracking information is sent via email. If you require expedited shipping please call us at 828-254-0708.

Pre-Order/ Seasonal Items: 

If your order contains a Pre-Order/ Seasonal item(s), example: Garlic, Shallots, Seed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., they will be shipped during the season those items are available. Seasonal Items will be shipped and available based on South East planting times. If your order has both Pre-Order / Seasonal items and seed packets, cover crops, etc., Pre-Order items will NOT delay the other items in your order from being shipped. Those NON Pre-Order/ Seasonal items (seed packets, cover crops, etc.) will be shipped within 3-4 business days, and the Pre-Order/ Seasonal items will ship out separately as they become available based on South East planting times. 

Local Pick-Up: 

If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order, instead of paying shipping, you can select local pick up in your cart. Please provide a phone number and (or) email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow 2-3 days to process local pick up orders during peak season (Januray-April). If you do NOT live in North Carolina, for example you live in Johnson City, Tennessee and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, please put our address as the shipping address:

Sow True Seed 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801

If you do not use a North Carolina shipping address it will not allow you to select local pick up. 

Return to Top

Refund Policy

We rigorously test our seed two times a year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable as long as it is stored correctly. We never sell seed that does not meet the Federal standards of germination. For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed, but if for any reason your seed does not germinate within the sell-by date, we will gladly replace the seed. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints.

Return to Top

Security Policy

Your payment and personal information is always safe.  Our Secure Sockets Layer software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions.  It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

Return to Top

Privacy Policy

We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy.  We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site.  We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the pages you visited.  We will never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, ever.

Return to Top

Photo Policy

TERMS FOR IMAGE RIGHTS - these things always sound scary, but basically we enjoyed your photo and would love to use it so other people can see what our seeds can become! We'd love to do that without getting in trouble, so being that we live in a crazy world, here are a few terms:

If you agree to permit us to use the photograph, we will need you to agree to a few terms. The terms are as follows:

• I represent and warrant that I am the individual that submitted the referenced photograph (“Photograph”). Further, I confirm that any other individuals shown in the Photograph have agreed to be included and permitted me to agree to these terms on their behalf and agreed to the license granted here or that I am authorized to agree on their behalf.
• I represent and warrant that the Photograph is my own original work, and that the Photograph does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third-party, including but not limited to rights of copyright, trademark, publicity and/or privacy.
• Further, I confirm that I am granting Sow True Seed, 146 Church St, Asheville NC 28801 a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, fully-paid license to edit, display, reproduce, modify, use, and distribute the Photograph (in whole or in part).
• To that end, I agree to indemnify Sow True Seed against any claims made by individuals pictured in the Photograph, any claims pertaining to copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property law violations, and any claims by individuals that may contest Sow True Seed’s right to use the Photograph as described above.
• I understand and agree that this is a complete RELEASE and DISCHARGE of all or any claims and rights that I may have against Sow True Seed and that no action will be taken by me or on my behalf with respect to any such rights, it being understood that this Release shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, and administrators.

Return to Top

Planting Guide and Seed Saving notes for Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum)

First cultivated in Egypt over 6,000 years ago, today we consume more than 250 million pounds annually! Much experimentation is being done with growing garlic from seed, a somewhat tricky process. Most garlic is grown from cloves, a method of asexual reproduction that produces clones of the original bulb.

Nutrients: vitamins C (high), B6, E and K, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin.

How to Grow Garlic from Bulbs

Bed Preparation

Hoe or till the planting bed a few weeks before planting to kill any weeds. Hoe again at planting time. If your soil is heavy or your region is prone to a rainy spring, create hills or raised beds for planting. This allows for better drainage.

Planting

Garlic can bruise easily, so be very gentle when handling the bulbs during planting, harvest, and storage. Store your garlic in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. For most parts of the US, you should plant your seed garlic in October. If you are very far north, you may need to plant mid-Sept. If you are very far south, it may be December or January. You should check with your local Agricultural Extension Office for information about the best planting time for your region. When you receive your seed garlic it will either be as loose cloves or whole bulbs. If it is whole bulbs, then you want to “pop” the cloves. This means removing the outer paper and separating the individual cloves. Don’t unwrap each clove, although if the clove skin comes off, it’s still fine to plant. Lightly squeeze the bulb to check for damage or softness – if you find some, those cloves should not be planted. With any garlic bulb there are always 1 to 3 naturally occurring very small cloves. Only plant the big fat ones for bulbs and save the little ones for eating. You could also plant them close together and harvest early as garlic scallions. Plant them pointy-end up/root-end down about 2” deep, spaced about 5” apart. You can choose to mulch heavily for the winter. This will help prevent weeds and reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation by keeping in soil moisture. Garlic benefits from a good all-around fertilizer mixed in with the soil at planting time. Ideally, use a slow-release granulated formula that will gradually feed the bulbs through the winter. A second top dressing in the early spring, before leaf growth begins, will give the plants an extra boost.

Harvest

Hardneck Garlic

Harvest the scape in spring by snapping off the tendril at the point where it comes out of the plant stalk. Do not let the plant flower or it will reduce the bulb size. Pull bulbs when there are only 5 or 6 green leaves left on the plant. Don’t wait too long or the bulb will begin to split!

Softneck Garlic

These grow well in a wide variety of climates, producing large bulbs with many cloves that can range from mild to spicy depending on variety and growing season. Plants grow soft stalks that can be braided for storage. Pull bulbs when there are 5 green leaves left. (Softneck garlic does not produce a scape).

Elephant Garlic

Sometimes the plants make a flower stalk – snap that off if it appears. Pull bulbs when the edges of the leaves begin to brown but are still quite green. 

How to save Garlic Bulbs

Select the largest, healthiest bulbs for seed stock. Don’t use any discolored or soft bulbs. Do not wash garlic at harvest time! Instead, just brush off whatever soil is stuck to the bulbs and let the rest dry on the plant. Store the whole plants in a cool dry place with good air flow, either laid out flat or hanging in small bunches. Good air flow is very important to prevent mold. After about 6 weeks, when the plants are thoroughly dry, clip the stalk and trim the roots. Replant in the fall to harvest again the following year.

• Shipping and Handling Costs
• Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
• Refund Policy
• Security Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Photo Policy

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy 

Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday. 

All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. USPS First Class (under 1 pound) transit time 5-6 business days. USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1lb and over)  transit time 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground (depending on what you chose in check out), it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. All transit times varies by season. If you want to receive tracking information please provide an email when placing your order, tracking information is sent via email. If you require expedited shipping please call us at 828-254-0708.

Pre-Order/ Seasonal Items: 

If your order contains a Pre-Order/ Seasonal item(s), example: Garlic, Shallots, Seed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., they will be shipped during the season those items are available. Seasonal Items will be shipped and available based on South East planting times. If your order has both Pre-Order / Seasonal items and seed packets, cover crops, etc., Pre-Order items will NOT delay the other items in your order from being shipped. Those NON Pre-Order/ Seasonal items (seed packets, cover crops, etc.) will be shipped within 3-4 business days, and the Pre-Order/ Seasonal items will ship out separately as they become available based on South East planting times. 

Local Pick-Up: 

If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order, instead of paying shipping, you can select local pick up in your cart. Please provide a phone number and (or) email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow 2-3 days to process local pick up orders during peak season (Januray-April). If you do NOT live in North Carolina, for example you live in Johnson City, Tennessee and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, please put our address as the shipping address:

Sow True Seed 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801

If you do not use a North Carolina shipping address it will not allow you to select local pick up. 

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Refund Policy

We rigorously test our seed two times a year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable as long as it is stored correctly. We never sell seed that does not meet the Federal standards of germination. For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed, but if for any reason your seed does not germinate within the sell-by date, we will gladly replace the seed. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints.

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Security Policy

Your payment and personal information is always safe.  Our Secure Sockets Layer software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions.  It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

Return to Top

Privacy Policy

We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy.  We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site.  We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the pages you visited.  We will never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, ever.

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Photo Policy

TERMS FOR IMAGE RIGHTS - these things always sound scary, but basically we enjoyed your photo and would love to use it so other people can see what our seeds can become! We'd love to do that without getting in trouble, so being that we live in a crazy world, here are a few terms:

If you agree to permit us to use the photograph, we will need you to agree to a few terms. The terms are as follows:

• I represent and warrant that I am the individual that submitted the referenced photograph (“Photograph”). Further, I confirm that any other individuals shown in the Photograph have agreed to be included and permitted me to agree to these terms on their behalf and agreed to the license granted here or that I am authorized to agree on their behalf.
• I represent and warrant that the Photograph is my own original work, and that the Photograph does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third-party, including but not limited to rights of copyright, trademark, publicity and/or privacy.
• Further, I confirm that I am granting Sow True Seed, 146 Church St, Asheville NC 28801 a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, fully-paid license to edit, display, reproduce, modify, use, and distribute the Photograph (in whole or in part).
• To that end, I agree to indemnify Sow True Seed against any claims made by individuals pictured in the Photograph, any claims pertaining to copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property law violations, and any claims by individuals that may contest Sow True Seed’s right to use the Photograph as described above.
• I understand and agree that this is a complete RELEASE and DISCHARGE of all or any claims and rights that I may have against Sow True Seed and that no action will be taken by me or on my behalf with respect to any such rights, it being understood that this Release shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, and administrators.

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Planting Guide and Seed Saving notes for Garlic

Garlic (Allium sativum)

First cultivated in Egypt over 6,000 years ago, today we consume more than 250 million pounds annually! Much experimentation is being done with growing garlic from seed, a somewhat tricky process. Most garlic is grown from cloves, a method of asexual reproduction that produces clones of the original bulb.

Nutrients: vitamins C (high), B6, E and K, thiamin, folate, pantothenic acid, niacin.

How to Grow Garlic from Bulbs

Bed Preparation

Hoe or till the planting bed a few weeks before planting to kill any weeds. Hoe again at planting time. If your soil is heavy or your region is prone to a rainy spring, create hills or raised beds for planting. This allows for better drainage.

Planting

Garlic can bruise easily, so be very gentle when handling the bulbs during planting, harvest, and storage. Store your garlic in a cool, dry place until you are ready to plant. For most parts of the US, you should plant your seed garlic in October. If you are very far north, you may need to plant mid-Sept. If you are very far south, it may be December or January. You should check with your local Agricultural Extension Office for information about the best planting time for your region. When you receive your seed garlic it will either be as loose cloves or whole bulbs. If it is whole bulbs, then you want to “pop” the cloves. This means removing the outer paper and separating the individual cloves. Don’t unwrap each clove, although if the clove skin comes off, it’s still fine to plant. Lightly squeeze the bulb to check for damage or softness – if you find some, those cloves should not be planted. With any garlic bulb there are always 1 to 3 naturally occurring very small cloves. Only plant the big fat ones for bulbs and save the little ones for eating. You could also plant them close together and harvest early as garlic scallions. Plant them pointy-end up/root-end down about 2” deep, spaced about 5” apart. You can choose to mulch heavily for the winter. This will help prevent weeds and reduce or eliminate the need for irrigation by keeping in soil moisture. Garlic benefits from a good all-around fertilizer mixed in with the soil at planting time. Ideally, use a slow-release granulated formula that will gradually feed the bulbs through the winter. A second top dressing in the early spring, before leaf growth begins, will give the plants an extra boost.

Harvest

Hardneck Garlic

Harvest the scape in spring by snapping off the tendril at the point where it comes out of the plant stalk. Do not let the plant flower or it will reduce the bulb size. Pull bulbs when there are only 5 or 6 green leaves left on the plant. Don’t wait too long or the bulb will begin to split!

Softneck Garlic

These grow well in a wide variety of climates, producing large bulbs with many cloves that can range from mild to spicy depending on variety and growing season. Plants grow soft stalks that can be braided for storage. Pull bulbs when there are 5 green leaves left. (Softneck garlic does not produce a scape).

Elephant Garlic

Sometimes the plants make a flower stalk – snap that off if it appears. Pull bulbs when the edges of the leaves begin to brown but are still quite green. 

How to save Garlic Bulbs

Select the largest, healthiest bulbs for seed stock. Don’t use any discolored or soft bulbs. Do not wash garlic at harvest time! Instead, just brush off whatever soil is stuck to the bulbs and let the rest dry on the plant. Store the whole plants in a cool dry place with good air flow, either laid out flat or hanging in small bunches. Good air flow is very important to prevent mold. After about 6 weeks, when the plants are thoroughly dry, clip the stalk and trim the roots. Replant in the fall to harvest again the following year.

• Shipping and Handling Costs
• Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy
• Refund Policy
• Security Policy
• Privacy Policy
• Photo Policy

Shipping and Handling Costs

Shipping Policy / Delivery Policy 

Orders with all items in stock will ship in 3-4 business days, plus transit time. During peak season (January - April) please allow extra time for your order to be fulfilled. We do NOT process orders on the weekend, if you place an order on Friday it will be processed on Monday. 

All orders are shipped by the United States Postal Service or UPS, either USPS First Class, USPS Priority, or UPS Ground. USPS First Class (under 1 pound) transit time 5-6 business days. USPS Priority and UPS Ground (1lb and over)  transit time 2-3 business days. If your order is over 1 lb it will be shipped USPS Priority or UPS Ground (depending on what you chose in check out), it can NOT be shipped USPS First Class. All transit times varies by season. If you want to receive tracking information please provide an email when placing your order, tracking information is sent via email. If you require expedited shipping please call us at 828-254-0708.

Pre-Order/ Seasonal Items: 

If your order contains a Pre-Order/ Seasonal item(s), example: Garlic, Shallots, Seed Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes, etc., they will be shipped during the season those items are available. Seasonal Items will be shipped and available based on South East planting times. If your order has both Pre-Order / Seasonal items and seed packets, cover crops, etc., Pre-Order items will NOT delay the other items in your order from being shipped. Those NON Pre-Order/ Seasonal items (seed packets, cover crops, etc.) will be shipped within 3-4 business days, and the Pre-Order/ Seasonal items will ship out separately as they become available based on South East planting times. 

Local Pick-Up: 

If you live near Asheville, North Carolina, and would like to pick up your order, instead of paying shipping, you can select local pick up in your cart. Please provide a phone number and (or) email address so we can contact you when your order is ready to pick up. Please allow 2-3 days to process local pick up orders during peak season (Januray-April). If you do NOT live in North Carolina, for example you live in Johnson City, Tennessee and would like to pick up your order instead of paying shipping, please put our address as the shipping address:

Sow True Seed 243 Haywood St, Asheville, NC 28801

If you do not use a North Carolina shipping address it will not allow you to select local pick up. 

Return to Top

Refund Policy

We rigorously test our seed two times a year through the NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to ensure that your seed will germinate and remain viable as long as it is stored correctly. We never sell seed that does not meet the Federal standards of germination. For quality control reasons, we regret that we cannot accept returns of seed, but if for any reason your seed does not germinate within the sell-by date, we will gladly replace the seed. We ask that you keep the LOT# from the seed packet so we can keep track of any complaints.

Return to Top

Security Policy

Your payment and personal information is always safe.  Our Secure Sockets Layer software is the industry standard and among the best software available today for secure commerce transactions.  It encrypts all of your personal information, including credit card number, name, and address, so that it cannot be read over the internet.

Return to Top

Privacy Policy

We respect and are committed to protecting your privacy.  We may collect personally identifiable information when you visit our site.  We also automatically receive and record information on our server logs from your browser including your IP address, cookie information and the pages you visited.  We will never sell your personally identifiable information to anyone, ever.

Return to Top

Photo Policy

TERMS FOR IMAGE RIGHTS - these things always sound scary, but basically we enjoyed your photo and would love to use it so other people can see what our seeds can become! We'd love to do that without getting in trouble, so being that we live in a crazy world, here are a few terms:

If you agree to permit us to use the photograph, we will need you to agree to a few terms. The terms are as follows:

• I represent and warrant that I am the individual that submitted the referenced photograph (“Photograph”). Further, I confirm that any other individuals shown in the Photograph have agreed to be included and permitted me to agree to these terms on their behalf and agreed to the license granted here or that I am authorized to agree on their behalf.
• I represent and warrant that the Photograph is my own original work, and that the Photograph does not violate any law, regulation or any right of any third-party, including but not limited to rights of copyright, trademark, publicity and/or privacy.
• Further, I confirm that I am granting Sow True Seed, 146 Church St, Asheville NC 28801 a non-exclusive, perpetual, royalty-free, fully-paid license to edit, display, reproduce, modify, use, and distribute the Photograph (in whole or in part).
• To that end, I agree to indemnify Sow True Seed against any claims made by individuals pictured in the Photograph, any claims pertaining to copyright, trademark, or other intellectual property law violations, and any claims by individuals that may contest Sow True Seed’s right to use the Photograph as described above.
• I understand and agree that this is a complete RELEASE and DISCHARGE of all or any claims and rights that I may have against Sow True Seed and that no action will be taken by me or on my behalf with respect to any such rights, it being understood that this Release shall be binding upon my heirs, executors, and administrators.

Return to Top