How to Store until Planting Time – Organic Garlic, Potatoes & More
Can’t plant right away? 🌱 Whether your garden beds aren’t ready or life is just busy, we’ve got you covered. While it’s best to plant as soon as your order arrives, proper storage will keep everything in good shape until planting time. Check below for our storage tips for each fresh product.
All Keene Garlic Products
No matter what Keene Garlic product you order, it is essential that you unpack your box and inspect your entire order, including your pack slip, immediately after receipt. Notify us within 3 days of delivery of any missing or damaged items by sending an email to help@keeneorganics.com. Provide a photo of your pack slip and the products in question with your email. See our Keene Garlic Return Policy for more information.
Best Before Planting Storage Practices
Planting Garlic
Green Garlic
To help ensure your garlic remains in top condition for planting:
✅All garlic will arrive in a netted bag, labeled by variety.
✅ Remove from the box and store in a cool, dry, dark place until planting.
✅ Inspect bulbs regularly. Check for firmness. If bulbs begin to soften, they may not be storing well. Moving them to the refrigerator can help extend their life and slow natural breakdown. Keep in mind: refrigeration mimics winter, so bulbs may sprout once returned to warmer temperatures.
✅ Planting later? Refrigeration is a smart way to prolong shelf life. Note that larger bulbs may not store as long as smaller ones. In warmer regions, you can cold vernalize (simulate winter) by chilling your garlic in the fridge for 2-3+ weeks.
Onion Sets
Shallot Sets
☑️ Onion & Shallot Sets will arrive in a netted bag, labeled by variety.
☑️ Remove from the box and store in a cool, dry, dark place until planting. Keep onions and shallots away from potatoes while storing.
Onion/Leek Plants
Shallot Plants
✅ Unpack your box immediately & carefully take plants out of the box.
✅ Keep plants in a sunny place and water as needed until planting time.
Asparagus Crowns
Horseradish Crowns
☑️ Our asparagus & horseradish crowns are dug just before shipment. Asparagus & Horseradish will arrive as bare root, dormant crowns.
☑️ Unpack your box immediately and remove asparagus & horseradish crowns from paper bags. Untie any bundles & carefully spread out. Do not water the roots upon arrival. Keep them in a cool, dry area until they can be planted.
☑️ Asparagus & Horseradish can be planted as soon as you can work your soil.
Seed Potatoes
✅ Remove potatoes from box and netted bag. If eyes are not yet visible, we recommend placing them in light & warmth, ~60-70F, to awaken them out of dormancy.
✅ 1-2 days before planting, use a sharp knife to slice larger seed potatoes into smaller pieces. Each piece should contain 2-3 eyes, smaller potatoes can be planted whole. Allow cuts to form a dry skin before planting.
I’ve received my onion transplants. We have had quite a bit of rain. I would say at least and inch or better. Can I still plant with the soil this wet? Thank you for your response.
This is my first order with Keene Organics. I have previously ordered from several other companies before finding you. I am incredibly impressed by all the instruction you give your customers, in the arrival email as well as these instructions online, insuring that we have the best chance to grow an optimal product. THANK YOU for all the extra care you have taken! The best I have ever received!