Garlic is a kitchen superstar—adding bold flavor to countless dishes. Growing your own garlic is rewarding, but the big question is: How do you know when to pick garlic? Picking garlic at the right time ensures the bulbs are flavorful, firm, and store well. Harvest too early, and the bulbs will be small and underdeveloped; wait too long, and they may split or lose flavor.
Let’s dive into the simple, foolproof ways to tell when your garlic is ready for harvest.
Understanding Garlic Growth and Timing
Garlic is typically planted in the fall and takes about 8 to 9 months to mature, meaning your harvest will usually fall between late spring and mid-summer, depending on your climate and garlic variety. In cooler climates like Canada or the northern U.S., garlic is often ready from mid-July to mid-August. In warmer regions, you might harvest as early as June.
Different garlic varieties mature at different rates:
– Asiatic and Turban garlic mature quickly and need early harvesting.
– Softneck varieties (like Artichoke) tend to be ready about 10 days earlier than hardneck types.
– Hardneck garlic (such as Porcelain and Rocambole) usually take longer to mature.
The Most Reliable Indicator: The Leaves
The best and easiest way to know when to pick garlic is by watching the leaves. Garlic leaves give you a natural countdown to harvest time.
– When about half of the leaves have turned brown and died back, and the other half are still green, your garlic is likely ready to pick.
– The leaves die from the bottom up, so pay attention to the lower leaves turning brown first.
– Avoid waiting until all the leaves have turned brown because the garlic bulb wrappers (the papery layers around the cloves) start to break down, which can cause the cloves to separate and reduce storage life.
How to Check Your Garlic Bulbs Before Harvesting
If you’re unsure, you can gently loosen the soil around one or two bulbs to check their size without pulling them out completely. If the bulbs look plump and the cloves are well-formed, it’s time to harvest. If they’re still small, give them a little more time but don’t wait too long.
Other Signs Your Garlic Is Ready to Pick
– Firmness: Ripe garlic bulbs should feel firm but not hard or mushy. When you gently squeeze the bulb, it should yield slightly to pressure. Mushy bulbs may be overripe or rotting, while very hard ones might be underripe.
– Stem condition: The garlic stem will start to dry out and become papery. A fresh green stem means the garlic is still growing, while a dried or missing stem indicates the bulb is mature or possibly past prime.
– Garlic scapes: If you’re growing hardneck garlic, you’ll notice curly flower stalks called scapes about 4 to 6 weeks before harvest. Once these are removed, wait about a month and then start checking the bulbs for readiness.
How to Harvest Garlic Properly
When your garlic is ready, use a garden fork or shovel to gently lift the bulbs from the soil. Avoid pulling by the stem as this can damage the bulb. After harvesting:
– Brush off excess dirt but don’t wash the bulbs.
– Cure the garlic by hanging it in a dry, airy place out of direct sunlight for 2 to 3 weeks. This helps the garlic dry properly and improves storage life.
Why Timing Matters
Picking garlic at the right moment maximizes flavor, size, and shelf life. Harvesting too early results in small, weak bulbs, while harvesting too late can cause the cloves to split, making them less tasty and harder to store.
Picking garlic is easier than you think once you know what signs to look for. Keep an eye on those leaves, check the firmness, and soon you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your gardening labor with delicious, homegrown garlic.
Happy harvesting!