Organic Russian Red Garlic (lb)

Organic Russian Red seed garlic is a Rocambole hardneck associated with Russian immigrants who brought red-skinned garlic to the Pacific Northwest in the early 1900s. Growers maintained the variety for its cold-winter performance, curling scapes, colorful cloves, and deep flavor. This certified organic planting stock offers a late-season harvest and the easy-peel character that distinguishes Rocamboles.

Mix & match savings. This item is eligible for the Garlic Mix & Match discount. Combine eligible seed garlic and shallots to save 10% at 3 pounds, 15% at 10 pounds, or 20% at 30 pounds. The discount is applied automatically in the cart.

Organic Russian Red gives cold-climate growers a harvest with color, flavor, and more than a century of Pacific Northwest garden history. Each bulb usually opens to a single circle of 6–8 substantial cloves marked in burgundy, brown, or purple. The loose skins make prep easy, while scapes provide something fresh to cook weeks before digging. It is a compelling choice for anyone who wants a richly flavored certified organic Rocambole.

The flavor is spicy, warm, and full, with a lingering savory finish. Raw cloves stand out in salsa, dressings, pesto, and ferments; cooked cloves enrich stews, roasted vegetables, meats, and tomato sauces. The loose skins make preparation easy, and the substantial cloves are convenient for slicing or roasting. Cooked slowly, the raw bite softens and the variety’s rounded Rocambole depth becomes more apparent.

When growing organic Russian Red, plant in fall where the cloves will receive real winter cold and spring soil will drain freely. Keep the bed watered through active leaf growth, but avoid letting it stay saturated. Cut curled scapes for the kitchen and to favor bulb development. As this late-season Rocambole approaches maturity, watch for several lower leaves to brown; lift carefully, cure with strong airflow, and plan to enjoy it before long-keeping softnecks.

Variety Details

• Type: Rocambole hardneck garlic
• Flavor: Spicy, warm, and deeply savory
• Bulbs & Cloves: Typically 6–8 cloves per bulb; bulb size and count vary with growing conditions
• Appearance: Burgundy to purple-mottled clove skins beneath pale wrappers
• Planting Time: Fall
• Approximate Harvest: Late summer; timing varies by climate and planting date
• Zones & Climate: Zones 3–7; best with cold winters and good drainage
• Storage: Cure carefully and use before longer-keeping garlic groups
• Something Special: An immigrant Rocambole with more than a century of Pacific Northwest history

Compare Garlic Varieties

For planting and variety guidance, visit the Garlic Resource Center, use the Garlic Selector, or browse all Seed Garlic & Shallots. For a side-by-side look at flavor, type, harvest timing, and more, open the downloadable Fall 2026 Garlic Varieties Summary (PDF).