How do I know when garlic is ready to harvest?
Written by
Nguyen Minh
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Successfully growing garlic depends primarily on harvesting at its peak maturity. The first cue I watch for is 50% yellowing leaves. My 2022 crop was an education in this patience; I waited until the foliage was 70% browned, which was far too late to harvest. The wrapper splits ruined potential for long-term or dry storage. Early harvests preserve the papery skins, but late harvests risk pest invasion.
Over-Waiting
- Bulbs burst through wrappers
- Exposes cloves to soil fungi
- Reduces storage life by 60%
Premature Pulling
- Cloves remain underdeveloped
- Lacks full flavor complexity
- Lower yield per plant
Once the plants are eight months from planting, test one plant at least once a week. Using a hori-hori knife, slide it six inches (15cm) from the stem to lift the bulb from the soil while keeping the wrappers intact. In my Arizona garden, I have to harvest my plants two weeks earlier than the seed packet directions suggest. An arid climate and extremely hot weather can quickly deteriorate the wrappers.
Early Harvest
- Use within 4 weeks
- Roast whole bulbs
- Make garlic-infused oil
Late Harvest
- Dehydrate immediately
- Process into powder
- Freeze peeled cloves
Curing locks to have them last longer. I hang my plants in a shaded barn with 60-70% humidity for three weeks. I string mine on wire racks, with 4 inches (10 cm) spacing. When stems snap cleanly, I trim the roots to about ¼ inch (0.6 cm) long and store the plants in mesh bags in a room that's 55-65°F (13-18°C).
Read the full article: How to Grow Garlic Successfully in Any Climate
