Donostia Red Seed Garlic (Organic)
Hardneck Creole type
Donostia Red is from a market in the city of Donostia, also known as San Sebastián, located in the Basque autonomous community of Spain. Like all Creole garlic types, it is from Basque Country and not Louisiana, despite the name association. Donostia Red has 8-12 crimson cloves on smallish bulbs with white wrappers. What the Creole garlic types lack in size they make up for in flavor (extra hot!). Storage is exceptional; we’ve had bulbs on our kitchen counter keep until the following year’s garlic harvest. This type of garlic tends to grow larger in places with warmer winters and can be productive in cooler areas as well. Avram at Garlicana says, “This has been the most consistently productive Creole here and produces some 2 ½ inch bulbs.”
Donostia Red seed garlic minimum bulb size is 1.75″ diameter. Average 7-9 bulbs per pound, 7-9 cloves per bulb.
Seed produced by Sauvie Island Growers in Portland, Oregon.
No international orders.
Garlic and Shallots will begin shipping the week of September 21, 2026. Orders that contain both Garlic/Shallots and Seed Packets may be held until Garlic/Shallots are ready to ship. For Garlic/Shallot shipping rates, please see our Shipping Information page.
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Separate cloves but do not peel. Plant each clove 2” deep, blunt end down, from October through February. Space plants 6-8” apart in rows 1’ apart. Apply extra fertilizer February-March.
Harvest bulbs in mid-July, when roughly 1⁄2 of the leaves are still green. Brush soil off of roots and hang in well-ventilated, shady spot to cure.
Seed Saving
Select largest healthiest bulbs for seed to ensure large cloves the following year.
Anna (verified owner) –
Where did you grow this variety? Washington
I’ve grown this variety for years in SE Portland and SW Washington. It’s a great all purpose variety. It has regularly kept for a year for me. I’m still using the few bulbs left over from last year’s harvest as of the end of August. I will always have some growing in my garden!
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