Harvesting Garlic

Some of our garlic prior to brush and trim

We stopped watering our garlic a few weeks ago.  We inspected a few bulbs to determine whether or not it was ready for harvest.  To do so, we could feel the bumps of the cloves through the wrappers of the mature bulb.

To harvest your garlic, gently lift it from the ground when the bulbs have reached a good size and before the wrappers begin to deteriorate or the bulbs begin to split open. If a bulb is not well-wrapped, and the skins on the cloves are not intact, the garlic will not keep well.

We use a flat, narrow-bladed shovel to loosen the ground beside the garlic and lift the plants by hand. Be very careful since garlic bruises easily.

Garlic sunburns quickly (some varieties even change flavor when left in the sun), so take each bucket load directly to your drying rack as soon as it is harvested.

Gourmet Garlic Gardens offers comprehensive information on how to preserve your garlic once it has cured.