How to know when garlic is ready to harvest #Garlic #Gardening #GrowYourOwnFood #Harvest #Veggies , by Josh Gardens on YouTube. 1 min 4 s.
- Video length
- 1 min 4 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Check which type you grow. Softneck garlic usually starts flopping over as harvest nears, while hardneck garlic stays upright and sends up a scape.
Watch the leaves. Wait until about one third to one half of the lower leaves have turned brown while the top leaves are still green.
Do not harvest too early. Lifting while most leaves are green usually gives you small bulbs.
Do not wait too long either. Leaving plants past the one-half brown mark can split the bulb wrappers and shorten storage life.
If you grow hardneck garlic, cut the scapes while they are still curly and tender. They can be eaten raw but taste sweeter cooked.
Loosen the soil with a hand fork a few inches from the stem, then lift the bulb gently by the base rather than pulling the leaves.
Shake off loose soil but do not wash the bulbs. Leave the leaves and roots on for now.
Cure the bulbs in a dry, airy, shaded spot for two to three weeks until the wrappers are papery, then trim roots and stems for storage.
Tips and common mistakes
Judge by leaf colour, not by the calendar, since planting date and weather shift harvest timing.
Stop watering about a week before you expect to lift the bulbs to help them cure.
Never pull garlic by the stem, as it can tear away from the bulb.
Check one plant first by lifting a bulb to confirm size before harvesting the whole patch.
Questions
Can I harvest garlic when all the leaves are still green?
You can, but the bulbs will likely be small. Wait until about a third to half of the lower leaves have browned.
What are garlic scapes and should I remove them?
Scapes are the curly flower stems hardneck garlic sends up. Cut them off so the plant puts energy into the bulb, and cook them like green beans.
Do I have to cure garlic after harvesting?
Yes, curing in a dry, airy, shaded spot for two to three weeks lets the wrappers dry and helps the bulbs store longer.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
