Garlic is an aromatic vegetable widely used in cooking due to its distinctive flavor and health-promoting properties. Grow garlic gardening is a rewarding activity that requires care and attention, but true satisfaction comes when it’s finally time to harvest the mature bulbs. Knowing how and when to harvest garlic, therefore, is essential to obtaining quality bulbs, full of flavor and nutrients. In this article, we’ll explore the signs that garlic is ready to harvest, see the steps to take for a successful harvest, and give you some helpful tips for storing your bulbs correctly.
So if you want to enjoy some local cloves from your own garden, read on to find out everything you need to know about how and when garlic is harvested.
How do you know when it’s time to harvest garlic?
Garlic is ripe and ready to harvest when its leaves begin to turn yellow and wilt. You can check maturity by doing a small test with one of the bulbs. Choose one of the larger ones and gently move the soil around it to partially expose the bulb. If you notice that the outer layers of the bulb are well formed and dry, it is a sign that the garlic is ready to harvest.
Furthermore, you can also observe the appearance of the leaves. When about half of the garlic leaves have turned yellow, you can proceed with the harvest. However, if the leaves are still green and vigorous, it is advisable to wait a little longer before harvesting.
It is important to avoid leaving the garlic in the ground too long after it has matured, as this could lead to separation of the bulbs and a decrease in their quality. Therefore, it is best to be attentive to signs of maturity and harvest the garlic at the right time to ensure that the bulbs are tasty and retain their best characteristics and characteristics. beneficial properties.
Obviously the exact period in which to harvest depends on when you planted garlic in the garden. For autumn sowing, maturation takes place from the month of May, while for winter sowing, it is necessary to wait until June-July.
How do you harvest garlic from the ground?
When you have ascertained that the garlic bulbs are ripe and ready for harvesting, you can proceed to extract them from the ground.
Preferably, choose, avoiding harvesting garlic when the soil is wet or muddy, as this could cause damage to the bulbs and favor the proliferation of diseases.
Use a garden tool, such as a pitchfork or a spade, to dig carefully around the bulbs. Try not to damage them during this operation.
Once you have dug around the bulbs, gently lift the bunch of garlic out of the ground. Keep in mind that the stems of garlic plants can be brittle when fully matured, so handle them carefully to avoid breaking them.
After lifting the bulbs, gently remove the excess soil. If there are remnants of roots or long stems attached to the bulbs, you can cut them off with clean shears. However, leave a part of the stem attached to the bulbs to facilitate subsequent conservation. By following these simple steps, you will be able to harvest garlic from the ground correctly and obtain a tasty and quality product.
How do you store garlic after harvesting?
After harvesting the garlic, it is important to let it dry for a period of time to allow the bulbs to dry completely and develop a more intense flavour.
To do this, take the heads of garlic, tie their stems together with a thin string forming bunches. Make sure the bulbs are not too tightly packed together to allow for good air circulation.
At this point you can hang the bunches in a cool, dry and well-ventilated place for about a month. During drying, check the bulbs regularly to make sure they are not damaged or rotting. Remove any diseased or rotting bulbs to prevent spreading disease to others. Once the garlic is completely dried, its texture will be hard and the “souls” of the bulbs will be dry and crunchy to the touch.
After drying, garlic can be stored for a long time.
You can store garlic in a cool, dry pantry, cellar, or utility room. Arrange the garlic bulbs on shelves or in wicker baskets, making sure they are well ventilated and protected from direct sunlight. Avoid storing garlic in humid environments, as this can promote mold growth.
You can also store garlic in glass jars. Remove the outer skins of the bulbs, but leave the membranes that cover the individual cloves intact. Fill the containers with the garlic cloves and seal tightly. Store containers in a cool, dry place.
Regardless of the storage method you choose, check your garlic periodically for any signs of rotting or spoilage. Over time, remove any bulb that is rotten, so as not to affect the other healthy ones.
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