When To Harvest Garlic California Giant Garlic
Like any other garden chore everybody chooses to harvest garlic differently. Most of Europe choose the summer ranging from July through August. Different harvesting dates are determined by location, varieties and weather. The best guide to when to harvest your garlic is to look at the leaves. When the tops of the garlic tops have turned a yellow/brown color with a few green ones left it is time to harvest. Harvesting too early the garlic will not be ready. Too late and the plant will not have the protection it needs and will not store well. To harvest pull the plants from the ground and place the bulbs out of direct sunlight. With too much direct sunlight after harvesting then they will burn and most likely the taste will go flat. Don't wash the bulbs just brush off the dirt. To increase the time for storage it is best to leave the tops on while the garlic cures for about 2 weeks. Keep the bulbs in an area that has good air circulation and is dry but cool to avoid rotting. Do some testing and only pull a couple plants at first to check the size of the bulbs. Too small and they probably need more time in the ground. Bulbs are splitting then left there too long, harvest as soon as possible. Lay aside for future use- Garlic After the bulbs have dried you can twist the garlic and cut the tops and put in a bag made of netting for air circulation and place in cool area. Do not keep in temperatures below 40 degrees F or they will start to sprout, remember they are a cool loving plant. Properly stored, it will keep over the winter months. Hardiness Known as one of hardiest of plants surviving cold weather like frosts, snow and freezes. Actually the plant goes dormant during the winter months and do not die during this time. Come spring though it perks up and starts growing.
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