Rules and timing for harvesting winter and spring garlic

When to dig up winter garlic

Winter garlic is the kind that's planted for the winter. It's typically harvested 100 days after the shoots emerge above ground. Translated into more familiar dates, this means harvesting should begin in late July and early August.

It's time to start harvesting when the lower leaves have dried out, the upper leaves have turned slightly yellow, and the bulblets have burst, revealing the seeds. It's recommended to dig up only fairly large bulbs, or it's better to sort them while preserving the remaining bulblets for planting.

The main thing is to carefully monitor that your bulbs do not break into cloves too easily - this is a sign that the plant is already overripe.

A garlic harvester will help speed up the harvesting process and improve its technology. This machine extracts the bulb and stem from the soil, removing clods of soil. While preserving the tops for long-term storage, it bundles the garlic bulbs and unloads them into a roller for easy harvesting.

When to dig up spring garlic

Spring garlic is also known as summer garlic. It begins to ripen in late August or early September. When you see the stems and leaves turn yellow, you can be sure the garlic is ready to harvest. The root collar dries out, and the bulb is firm and dry. These are all signs of ripe spring garlic.

It's recommended to harvest garlic when the humidity is minimal. It's best to use a specialized harvester—this will reduce serious damage during harvesting and make the process much faster and more efficient.

However, if you don't have specialized equipment, harvesting is quite possible by hand. You need to cut off the stalks, dig up the bulbs slightly, and carefully remove the garlic cloves from the ground, avoiding injury. The harvest is laid out in rows to dry for 24 hours. Then it is collected in a special room, where it is further dried for several weeks with the stems and roots cut off. It is recommended to leave at least a centimeter of stem and be careful not to damage the base when cutting the roots.

Storage rules

Storing garlic is not much different from storing any other agricultural crop. Avoid high humidity to prevent the growth of fungus or mold. Forty to fifty percent is the ideal humidity level. Adequate ventilation is essential. Since large bulbs store best, it's recommended to sort the harvest by size before storing.

At home, this vegetable is stored in braids or wreaths of fifteen or seventeen bulbs. An alternative to this method is storing it in bunches or small brooms. The bulbs are tied into small panicles and hung from the ceiling, choosing a corner that is less humid.

Video: "When and How to Harvest Garlic"

This video will teach you all about garlic harvesting.