Garlic is one of the few vegetables used in our kitchen. Thus, it would be wise to know when to harvest garlic instead of buying it from the market.
When to Harvest Garlic – Garlic’s Variety
Garlic is one of the few veggies that offer us many variety in the kitchen. It is an essential ingredient of almost every recipe. We all love to use garlic in our soups during the winter. Also, garlic adds more to the flavour, whether it’s salad dressing, chilli, or fancy food. We know it is an item we need during every meal. But it must be easy to grow and harvest crops in a home. Garlic is more manageable than any crop to grow in your backyard. This way, you will have a long-lasting supply of garlic at home.
You can store garlic longer than other crops if you successfully grow garlic. So, the soup season could have come earlier for you. Before getting info about when to Harvest garlic, note that this plant is easy to maintain.
When to Harvest Garlic – Getting to Plant Garlic
As you prepare to harvest garlic, knowing when and how you should plant it is essential. We know most of the seeds are ready to plant during the summer. But garlic needs some planning and thoughts before the summer.
When you think that it’s time for you to start Planting, head to the nearest store and get Garlic seeds. The ideal time to get Garlic seeds from the market is during the fall season. These days, plenty of online stores sell seeds for plantations.
The perfect thing to do is to read a website’s reviews to get the best seed quality. Also, if you save the seeds from garlic, you bought them from the grocery store; that can also work. In a few cases, people have found great success in grocery store garlic.
One of the best ways to get garlic seeds is to look around your area. If a friend or neighbour grows garlic, ask them for Garlic seeds. You can also search for local nurseries. This way, you will be sure of seed quality.
Types of Garlic
Now we know about the initial planning for planting garlic. We must have more info before wondering when to harvest garlic. There are two types of garlic that you can find in the supermarket: soft neck and Hard neck garlic. We should learn the differences between these two types to get the best results.
When to Harvest Garlic
Soft neck Garlic
As the name suggests, soft-neck garlic has a softer neck than the other type. Also, it doesn’t grow scapes. Due to its softer neck, this type of garlic is best for curing. It is best for you if you live in a warmer climate. Also, this type of garlic is best suited to storage for a longer duration. You will get more cloves in a single bulb for this soft-neck garlic.
Hard neck Garlic
Hard neck Garlic has a harder neck than the other types of garlic. When we say neck of the garlic, we refer to the Scape that grows out and turns into a flower. The growing situation only happens when we let the garlic grow to be mature. If you live in an area where the weather is colder, select the hard-neck garlic. This type of garlic produces large cloves in a single bulb of garlic.
Which Garlic to Plant?
Now that we have basic info about two types of garlic, we move to the plantation step of the garlic.
Along with the type of neck, there are other factors that we need to consider when selecting a garlic seed. There are different types of garlic regarding heat, spice, and flavor. Try garlic or its seeds before getting them in higher quantities.
The growing conditions of garlic also impact the taste and quality of the seed. The description of your seed’s packing describes the growing conditions of the garlic. You need to read the details before purchasing larger quantities. Make sure to match the moisture level, temperature, and other details with your climate.
When to Harvest Garlic – The Planting Step
Now that we have collected all the essential info about Seed types, climate, etc., we move towards plantation. Instead of planting garlic in summer or spring, plant garlic seeds in the fall. The exact dates of planting the seed vary, but sometime around November is best for Planting Seed. You can find details regarding the correct climate on the internet. Consider your local temperature, climate, and moisture while selecting the seed planting dates.
When to Harvest Garlic
Now that we have completed all the steps, the harvesting garlic step is paramount. It usually takes four months for a Garlic plant to mature and grow. After that period, your field will be full of tall plants and leaves. If you are new to plantation and farming, you may harvest the Garlic plant beforehand and lose all your hard work. It is essential to know when to harvest garlic. How do we know when garlic is ready to harvest?
Harvesting Theories
Now, there are different theories about harvesting garlic. Some of them are based on pure instincts and experience. At the same time, others are based on science and sometimes arts as well. Garlic bulbs are sensitive enough to decay. Thus, harvesting time is significant for beginners.
From personal experience, wait till the leaves of your plant are one-third yellow and brown. You may wait till the leaves are one-half yellow and brown. This process is a thumb rule shared by experienced farmers for harvesting garlic.
However, be careful while you check for yellow and brown leaves. Waiting for them to turn brown will negatively affect the Garlic bulb. As we shared, garlic is a sensitive plant that needs extra care. You must harvest it when it is healthy and ready.
The situation may be different from the shared details. You will learn the exact colour scheme after a few seasons. Sometimes, you can get healthy garlic bulbs in three different leaf colours. The initial harvesting time is the yellow and brown leaves of the plants.
The sooner you harvest them, you will get better and healthier results. There are instances, depending on climate, where brown-leaf plants also give you great results. However, the initial yellow and brown leaf situation provides the best results.
When to Harvest Garlic
Climate Effect on Garlic Crop
We know that the variety with brown leaves is completely perfect for eating. But these types of garlic aren’t the best for storage for a longer duration. If you plant the seeds during November, your crop will be ready to harvest in June. However, we must mention here that the duration may differ as per your climate. If you lived through a year with higher temperatures during Spring and Summer, the crop may get ready before June.
Cooler spring and summer will result in a longer harvesting duration. So, checking these metrics while harvesting your Garlic crop is wise.
Inspecting the Garlic Before Harvesting
In case you had a warmer Spring and Summer, you have reached mid-July, and still, the leaves aren’t turning Yellow; there are a few things you can check. Instead of risking and harvesting an unhealthy Garlic crop, we can inspect it. In this situation, we need to loosen up the soil carefully.
This way, we’ll expose the bulb. Now, use your fingers and check the bulb itself. As we are checking the Garlic bulb, two scenarios may occur.
- If your bulb is firm and full of distinct cloves, garlic is ready to harvest.
- If the bulb is like ping-pong, it is not ready yet. In this situation, just replace the soil, leave the plant as it is, and check again a week later.
A beginner must know that manual inspection also depends on the variety of garlic. If you are using a single type of Garlic seed, you can decide by inspecting a single plant. But if there are different types of seed, the inspection should be thorough. Each type of seed performs differently under similar conditions.
When to Harvest Garlic – Digging the Plant
Every beginner makes a rookie mistake: pulling the plant with their bare hands after harvesting. This method is not the best and can affect your plant. Although the plant’s stem seems strong, the garlic bulb itself doesn’t have the same strength. If you don’t lose the soil above the bulb while pulling the plant, the Garlic bulb will feel its effects.
The best method to dig up the plant is the old-school shovel method. Carefully dig the soil around the plant, making sure that your shovel goes under the plant’s roots. It will take you some time to master this craft, but the process will help you carefully remove the plant from the soil.
Row Planting Pattern
The digging-up process and shovel use also depend on your planting pattern. There is a different shovel for each pattern to get better results. Get a spade shovel if you are planting the garlic in a row. Walk down the rows and use the Spade shovel to target the roots part of the soil.
Apply a gentle push at a steep angle under the roots if your soil is soft. This method will pay off the plant, thus digging the plant gently. However, if the soil is hard, you must repeat the process in the shape of a circle around each plant.
Checkered Planting Pattern
Experts use the checkered planting pattern for Garlic plants to maximize the space. Try to use the hand shovel to get the best results in this situation. Use the hand shovel in a wide circle around each plant. It is wise to apply the strokes gently in the circle to protect the bulb. As you dig the shovel, try to create a loose space for a final push.
Now, set the shovel at a deep angle under the root system and apply gentle pressure upwards to lift the plant. In this situation, don’t be alarmed if you are facing some opposition. The root system of the Garlic Bulb is impressive. Thus, you may need more than a few attempts to dig the plant.
Label Your Garlic
Now, before you head to the next step of curing the garlic, which involves the whole plant, we must share a vital tip. It may take you a few seasons, but most farmers grow different types of seeds. Thus, it is a wise step to label your garlic when digging. This way, you save a lot of time and effort that you will invest later at storage time.
Use a label, colour, or write initials across a variety to help you remember the Garlic type. Each garlic type has its quality for storage, taste, and size.
When To Harvest Garlic
Cured Garlic Lasting Duration
We know garlic must undergo a curing process to prepare it for storage. The duration of storage depends on different factors.
- A proper curing process is essential for the longevity of garlic.
- Longevity also heavily depends on the health of the bulb.
- Garlic is expected to have a longer storage life if stored in a dark, cool, and dry environment with low humidity. Try to keep it in a basement, pantry, or shadowed corner of your kitchen.
- The variety of garlic is also essential in predicting the storage period. As we mentioned, the softer varieties of garlic are more accessible to store for a long duration. Compared to hard-neck garlic, this period may last more than a month. Extra care and attention may help you store the garlic for nearly eight months. This period may also extend to a year, depending on the variety of seeds, your climate, and how you care for the Garlic.
- We must all appreciate all the new farmers in our area trying Garlic Farming. This is not only a great hobby but also financially helpful in the longer game. All you need to do is be patient and apply the tips you learn from the best farmers. This way you can learn when to harvest Garlic in the best way.
FAQs
Here are some commonly asked questions about harvesting Garlic
1- What is the ideal time to Harvest Garlic?
The ideal time to harvest Garlic is when you get brown and green leaves on the plant. You will get to this stage 7-8 months after planting the Garlic seed.
2- How to know if Garlic is Ready to Harvest?
Carefully dig around the bulb and see if the bulbs are well-formed. They must be tightly wrapped in the skin and plump.
3- When to Harvest Garlic correct way?
Losen up the soil around the bulb gently with a shovel. Now, take out the plant gently by grasping the stem and letting the bulb dry.
Final Words
It is easy to conclude that When to Harvest Garlic, it is a profitable and easy-to-plant vegetable. Before starting the procedure, the best way is to know about the varieties of Garlic available in the area. Later, take advice from the expert and find out the ideal Garlic as per the climate. Changes in your climate and temp are vital for a crop’s success. Use an appropriate harvesting technique to get the best crop.
