When and How Do You Harvest Garlic?

In order to know how and when to harvest garlic, you need to learn about the plant and the diseases and pests that can affect it. You can also find out about the different ways that you can store it.

Planting

Planting garlic for harvesting requires a few steps. In order to get the best results, you need to know a few things about your soil.

First, the ideal pH of your soil should be between 6.0 and 7.0. Then, you need to improve the nutrient content of your soil. This can be accomplished through a combination of compost, manure, and organic matter.

Garlic is a heavy feeder, so it needs a wide range of nutrients. In addition to the nutrients that your soil already contains, you should add a high-nitrogen fertilizer to your soil. A nitrogen-heavy fertilizer will help stimulate leaf growth.

Your soil should also be well drained. If it is not, you will likely see smaller cloves and a shorter storage life. You should water during bulb formation. However, you should stop watering about mid-June.

In spring, garlic bulbs should be planted two inches deep in warm climates and one inch deep in cooler regions. During bulb formation, you should give the plant a little bit of water every three to five days.

When you’re ready to harvest, you should use a garden fork to gently lift the plants. Keep in mind that you don’t want to pull up the foliage, as this can break the bulb. Alternatively, you can place a fluffy layer of fresh grass clippings over the top of the cloves, which will save moisture and suppress weeds.

After you’ve harvested your bulbs, you should store them in a cool, dark place. This is important because your bulbs may be affected by white rot fungus, which starts at the base of the garlic. While it will not affect the quality of your bulbs, it can spread to the leaves.

Harvesting

There are many advantages to harvesting garlic. It is an excellent companion plant in the garden and can be used to make tasty soups, salads, hummus and pesto. However, it is also a very fragile crop. Thus, it is important to know what you are doing when you decide to harvest.

In order to get the most out of your harvest, you will need to properly prepare it for storage. This is best done by trimming the leaves, cleaning off the dirt, and storing the garlic in an air conditioned room.

When it comes to the actual process of harvesting garlic, a garden fork is your best bet. You can gently loosen the bulb and shake it out to remove any excess soil.

To determine when to harvest your garlic, take into consideration the current weather conditions and the strength of the soil. Also, remember to check on the progress of the plant. A small plant can be harvested with a shovel, while a large one will require a more robust device.

The best time to harvest a bulb is after a week or two. Garlic should be stored away from direct sunlight to prevent drying. Since the bulbs are very delicate, it is important to avoid bumping the plant.

While there is no exact way to determine the optimal timing for your own planting, a good rule of thumb is to wait until three or four of the bottom leaves have turned brown. This is the signal that your garlic is ready for harvesting.

If you are going to use the garlic in the kitchen right away, the most obvious method is to simply dig up and chop off the cloves. Alternatively, you can tie the garlic together or hang it in bundles. But before you start, you should first check the size of the bulbs.

Storing

You can store garlic in a number of ways. For instance, you can keep it in a glass jar with oil. Or you can freeze it. But before you do any of these, you should understand how to properly store it.

It is important to keep your garlic in a cool, dark place. This is because the light is a trigger for mould growth. A basement, for example, is usually a cooler environment than the rest of your house.

Depending on your climate, you may be able to store your garlic in the refrigerator. But if you do, be sure to monitor it frequently. Garlic that is in the fridge will start to sprout after a few days.

Some homeowners choose to keep their garlic bulbs in a crisper drawer. This will help reduce humidity. Another idea is to use a mesh produce bag. These bags are much more breathable than plastic bags, and will allow for better air circulation.

Another way to store your garlic is to freeze it. It is safer to do this than leave it out in the open.

Keeping your garlic cloves in an airtight container is also a good idea. However, this is not as effective as freezing them. And if you are going to do this, you should consider using an unglazed clay flowerpot. This will give you better air circulation and prevent mold from growing.

The best way to store garlic is the old-fashioned way. Whether you store it whole or in pieces, you should keep it in a cool, dry place. To do this, you can keep it in an uncrowded cupboard, or you can use a wire mesh basket or an open bowl.

Pests

A good rule of thumb to follow when and how to harvest garlic is to wait until about one third of the leaves are brown. The reason for this is that the yellowing of the lower leaves is a warning that the bulbs are mature and ready for harvest.

Another good indicator is that the bulb’s skin is papery. This means that the bulbs are cured.

Depending on the weather and soil conditions, the perfect time to harvest may not be as early as you expect. However, there are many ways to tell when the time is right.

To determine whether the cloves are ready to harvest, try digging up some of the bulbs. Do not dig too deeply. You should only remove about three inches of the top layer of dirt.

If you have a hot climate, harvesting can be pushed ahead. In the Northeast, you should be able to do this in mid-July. As you dig, you’ll see the corresponding wrapper around each bulb.

It is also possible to have a successful fall planting. Although this occurs late in the season, this is the best time to grow garlic in the northeast. Planting in the fall should occur during the same time that you would plant spring-flowering bulbs.

For optimum results, you should keep your garlic in a shady, dry area with good air circulation. Avoid soil with a clay-like quality.

Ideally, the plants should be in rows 6 to 12 inches apart. Garlic cloves should be planted about 2 inches deep.

Once the bulbs are cured, you should hang them in mesh bags. They can be stored at room temperature or in a dark place.

Diseases

If you’re harvesting garlic, you’ll need to keep an eye out for the common diseases and pests. These diseases and insects can seriously affect your crops. However, you can prevent them with proper sanitation and crop rotation.

Many of the diseases and pests found on garlic are similar to those that plague onions. For example, the leek moth and onion flies can damage your garlic crop. There are also many nematodes that can live in the soil. Some of them are beneficial to the plant, while others are not.

During your planting season, be sure to use straw mulch to help protect your garlic plants from frost heaving. It’s also a great way to conserve water.

Garlic is a low-maintenance perennial. However, it does need a period of cold to develop. If you plant your garlic cloves too early, you may not have enough time to cure them before they are ready for harvest.

Garlic needs at least one month at 0 to 10 degrees C. You can help this happen by introducing lime to the soil. Lime helps to reduce acidity.

During the growing season, you’ll want to apply 1/4 pound of nitrogen. This can delay bulb development, so it’s best to apply it in the mid-April.

In addition to fertilizer, you’ll need to keep an eye on your garlic crops. They can become susceptible to disease, especially if they’re planted in an area that has high humidity.

If your plants are infected with viruses, they may have a mosaic look to their leaves. Also, you may notice a reduction in their leaf size.

Garlic bulbs can become infected with bloat nematode, which can cause the bulb to split. Bloat nematode’s life cycle lasts about 21 days.