You’ve planted your garlic and are patiently waiting to harvest. But, how do you know when it’s ready to be pulled? Pull garlic too soon, and you will have very small cloves that do not store well. Pull it too late, and the cloves may shed their skins and be vulnerable to disease.

In today’s guide, we walk you through how and when to harvest garlic in five easy steps. So, if you’ve been tempted to pull your garlic, but didn’t know how or when, you’ve come to the right place! Pull up a chair and let’s chat about harvesting garlic.

When should you harvest garlic?

There is not an exact formula of when to pull garlic. It depends on many factors like growing season, climate, and the type of garlic you plant. The most popular type of garlic to plant is fall garlic. This garlic is usually harvested in late spring or mid-summer. But, some seasons could extend into the early fall. Depending on your growing zone, garlic can also be planted in early spring. The harvest will typically be in late summer.

Two of the main categories of garlic

Hardneck garlic

• Hardneck garlic is known for its scapes.
• It is typically planted in colder climates and winter hardy.
• Hardneck garlic has fewer cloves per head, but they are larger than softneck varieties.
• Hardneck garlic must be used within 4-6 months after harvest.

Softneck garlic

• Softneck garlic is typically grown in warmer climates as it’s not as cold hardy.
• They have a long shelf life of 9-12 months under ideal conditions.
• Softneck varieties are known for having many cloves per head.
• Since their stocks are softer, they are excellent for braiding.

Here a few general tips to know when garlic is ready to be harvested

• The leaves will turn yellowish brown and dry up.
• A good visual cue is when the lowest two leaves start to turn brown.
• To test to see if your garlic is ready to be harvested, try digging up a few bulbs.
• If you see that the cloves are filled out in the garlic skins, it’s ready to be harvested.
• You may see yellow on the leaves higher up or brown with yellow tips. Be careful. This doesn’t always mean that your garlic is ready to be harvested. It could be a sign of nitrogen deficiency.

How to harvest garlic in five easy steps

Tools or equipment that you will need:

• Garden fork
• Gardening gloves
• Knife or kitchen scissors
• Harvesting basket

Step one: Preparing the garlic for harvest

Once the leaves of your garlic have started to die back, stop watering. Drying out the soil before harvesting will help you to cure your garlic once it is removed from the ground.

Step two: Look for visual cues of when your garlic is ready to be harvested

To determine if your garlic is ready to be harvested, take a look at the leaves. If you see that the bottom 2-3 leaves have started to dry up and turn brown, it’s ready to harvest. Avoid waiting too long. The longer you wait, the more chance of the bulb splitting open and ruining your harvest. You can always test it by gently lifting a few bulbs out of the ground to see if they are ready or not.

Step three: Dig up the garlic bulbs

Once you have determined if your garlic is ready, it’s time to harvest them. Garlic does not release that easily from the ground like an onion would. So, pulling directly on it with your hands won’t serve you well. Even though you originally planted very small cloves, the garlic has grown into a larger bulb. It has also put down a healthy set of roots. Always dig your garlic.

Some helpful tips when harvesting garlic

• Always wait until the ground has dried up a bit so that it is easier to cure your garlic once harvested.
• Never pull it directly out with your hands. The stalks can break leaving your garlic bulbs stuck in the ground.
• A garden fork is preferred to gently loosen the soil around the bulbs for harvesting. If you don’t have a garden fork, you can gently use a shovel, but keep back from the bulb so you don’t slice into it.
• Gently loosen the soil around the bulbs and be careful not to slice into them.
• Once loosened, shake off excess dirt by hand and free the bulbs from the soil.

What happens if you slice through a bulb?

Let’s face it. It’s bound to happen when harvesting garlic. You might accidentally slice through a bulb. All is not lost though. If you have found yourself in this situation, simply find some quick recipes to use the sliced bulb in. These bulbs are no longer good for long term storage, but they will work just fine in a quick recipe.

Step 4: Cure the garlic

To properly cure your garlic:

• Gently brush off any remaining dirt on your garlic bulbs. DO NOT WASH the bulbs off or get them wet. They need to be dry to cure.
• Leave any remaining stalks and roots attached to the bulbs throughout the curing process.
  Bundle eight to ten stems together and hang them in a dark, dry and cool place like a basement. Or, you can lay the garlic stems flat on a screen. Be sure to do this in a single layer.
• Leave the bulbs to cure for 3-4 weeks.
• While they cure, keep them out of direct sunlight.
• Once the tops of the garlic and the roots have dried out, cut them off.
• Clean up the garlic bulbs by removing the outer skin. Be careful to keep the cloves intact.
• If you are growing softneck garlic, you can braid the stocks and cure them by hanging them up to dry.

Step 5: Store your garlic bulbs

To properly store your garlic bulbs:

• Keep your garlic in a dark and cool place. Ensure proper air circulation.
• Braiding and hanging softneck garlic is an effective storage strategy.
• Avoid hanging your garlic in a kitchen near sunlight as it will alter the flavour.
• If you want to, you can store your garlic in a mesh bag until you use it.

Frequently asked questions about harvesting garlic

How long can garlic be stored after harvesting?

Softneck garlic can be stored for 6-8 months. While it’s being stored, check on it to make sure that it is not getting too soft or beginning to sprout. Hardneck garlic should be used within a few months of harvest. It has a shorter shelf life and may dry out, go soft, or begin sprouting after 3-4 months. If stored at freezing temperatures, you may get up to six months out of it.

Can you save garlic bulbs to plant next year?

Yes, look for some of your best and biggest bulbs from your harvest. These will be the most viable options to save for planting next season. Until it’s time to plant, store your seed garlic at room temperature with high humidity. Avoid having it dry out as it will be no good for planting.

Can you eat garlic right away after harvesting?

Yes, you can. Curing it helps to preserve your garlic for longer term storage.

How do you keep squirrels and rodents away from your garlic?

Believe it or not, even with the potent fragrance of garlic, rodents will still be attracted to it. To help deter rodents away, mulch around your garlic bulbs with straw after planting.

Do you harvest garlic before or after it flowers?

For hardneck garlic, once you see the flowers (called scapes), you can go ahead and remove them. They can be used in cooking. Once removed, your garlic is about a month away from harvest.

Final thoughts on harvesting and storing garlic

Harvesting garlic from your own patch is easy and just takes 5 steps. By following the tips in today’s guide, you will be creating delicious meals with your very own garlic. Are you growing garlic this year in your garden? Drop a comment below and let us know about your journey. Until next time gardening friends, always remember to store your garlic dry. Happy gardening everyone!