The Best Time to Harvest Garlic for Maximum Flavor and Storage
Garlic is a unique vegetable to grow because unlike most plants, it is harvested based on the condition of the leaves rather than the bulb. Knowing the optimal time to dig up garlic bulbs is key to getting the best flavor and ensuring the longest possible storage. Follow these tips on identifying when garlic is ready for harvest.
Watch the Leaves
Garlic bulbs mature underground, so you can’t judge ripeness by looking at the bulb itself Instead, keep an eye on the leaves above ground Garlic should be harvested when about half of the leaves have turned brown or yellow, but there are still some green leaves left. The green leaves indicate that the bulbs are full sized but not overripe. Each remaining green leaf is a protective wrapper that will help the garlic last longer in storage.
If you wait until all the leaves die back completely, the bulbs may begin to separate into individual cloves and will not store as well. On the other hand, harvesting too early means the bulbs will be undersized. Check bulbs by gently loosening the soil around a test plant if you’re unsure.
Time it After Flower Stalks Appear
Hardneck garlic varieties produce a firm flowering stalk called a scape in early summer. Cut off the scapes as soon as they appear and use them for cooking. Wait 4-6 weeks after cutting the scapes, then begin checking your garlic bulbs for harvest readiness based on the condition of the leaves. The scapes signal that bulbs are maturing and harvesting time is approaching.
Stop Watering Before Digging
About 1-2 weeks before your target harvest date, stop watering the garlic. This allows the soil to dry out a bit, making harvest easier. Garlic bulbs are less likely to be damaged if the ground is loose rather than muddy.
Cure Bulbs Properly After Digging
Use care when digging bulbs, handling them gently to avoid bruising. Do not wash off dirt immediately after harvest. Leave the roots and any loose outer skins intact and move the unwashed bulbs out of direct sunlight to begin curing. Proper curing and storage conditions are vital for long-lasting garlic flavor.
Aim for July or August Harvest in Most Areas
In general, garlic is ready for harvest in mid to late summer. The exact timing varies depending on climate and the type of garlic grown. In most regions, you can expect to harvest garlic sometime in July or August. Earlier maturing varieties may be ready a month or two sooner.
Watch for Signs of Overripeness
It’s better to harvest garlic a little early than too late. Overripe bulbs that remain in the ground too long will begin to sprout and deteriorate. Cloves may grow visibly separate or even split apart from each other. If you miss the ideal harvest window, use up any overripe garlic promptly since it won’t store as well. Or allow bulbs to remain in place and harvest garlic greens.
Getting the harvest timing right is crucial for garlic flavor and storage quality. Follow these tips on identifying when leaves indicate peak ripeness. With experience, you’ll become skilled at observing garlic plants and predicting the perfect moment for gathering your homegrown bulbs.
Tips for knowing when to harvest your garlic:
- 3-4 weeks after picking the garlic scape.
- 4-5 green leaves remaining from the top.
- About 50% of the plant has died back and started to yellow.
- You do a test harvest and the bulb looks uniform with shoulders and nice sized.
- Bulb cut in half shows full clove development and is pulling away from the hardneck.
- If you didn’t pick the scape, the scape will point to the sky.
When to Harvest Garlic
Where Keene Garlic grows in South Central Wisconsin, Zone 5a, we harvest our garlic in mid-late July. Each planting zone will have its own harvest window which will be earlier for those south of us and just a bit later for those north of us. Timing the harvest of your garlic is more about garlic bulb maturity than it is about the month, day, or year. The plant will be ready to harvest based on the daylight hours and temperatures, not on days in the ground. The temperatures of the season may push the harvest a few days earlier or later.
It is always a good idea to start checking your garlic a few weeks before harvest. You may even want to harvest a bulb every few days to see how they are developing. The goal is to harvest the largest bulbs possible. If you harvest garlic too early, it will look like a green onion, as the bulb sizes up in the last 3-4 weeks before harvest. Be sure to water lightly during this time. The soil should be moist, not saturated.
About 3-4 weeks after picking garlic scapes, garlic plants start to die back from the bottom and the leaves start to yellow. If growing softnecks, simply watch for the plant to start dying back. This is our signal that harvest time is near.
When there are 4-5 primarily green leaves remaining, counting from the top leaf to the bottom, it is time to harvest. Some will say, when 50% of the leaves have died back.
Each leaf is a wrapper around the bulb for storage, so if you harvest with 4 green leaves take one off for cleaning, that leaves 3 leaves or wrappers around the bulb for good storage.
When to Harvest Garlic + a unique tip for curing and storage
FAQ
How do you know when garlic is ready to be picked?
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Leaf Condition:Look for the lower leaves to turn yellow and then brown, indicating that the plant is no longer actively sending energy into the leaves and is focusing on bulb development.
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Bulb Development:Gently dig around a few bulbs to check their size and firmness. The cloves should be plump and well-formed, with tight wrappers.
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Scapes (for hardneck varieties):If you have hardneck garlic, the scapes (curly shoots) will straighten, signaling that the plant is maturing.
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Timing:In Los Angeles, you can expect to harvest garlic in late June or early July, depending on the specific variety and growing conditions.
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Don’t Wait Too Long:If you wait too long, the bulbs can split and lose their protective layers, making them difficult to store.
What month is garlic usually ready?
Garlic is typically ready to be harvested in June or July when half of the leaves have turned yellow or brown.
Can I leave garlic in the ground too long?
You’ll want to harvest soon because if left in the ground too long, the bulbs can split, which also reduces their storage potential.
How long do you hang garlic to dry?
A well-ventilated barn will also work, but be sure that bulbs are hung with adequate air circulation or on open racks up off the floor. Curing takes 10-14 days.