Three Steps to Garlic Success in the Garden

Three Steps to Success while Harvesting Garlic from the Garden

So I planted garlic last fall, now what?

For you garlic-loving gardeners, you've watched your darling cloves sprout in November, go dormant over the winter, reemerge in the spring, and grow to a 3 foot plant by May. What's next?

Scape removal. Garlic scapes are the flower shoot growing out of the center stalk of the plant. They curl into a smooth cylinder that kind of look like a pig tail! They are edible, taste like mild garlic, and look like green beans when cooked. You can steam, roast, or saute them. So people even make "garlic scape pesto."

By May your garlic plants will be about 3 foot tall, and the hardneck variety will be producing the scape. You'll want to snap them off (or snip them) when they become about 1 foot long. If you don't, the energy of the plant will go to making the flower, not allowing the bulb to form cloves. Then all this for naught!

In a few weeks you'll notice the plant starting to "die back". Look for yellowing or browning of the bottom leaves. This in an indication of harvest readiness!

The Harvest. I like to do a "test dig" before popping up all my bulbs. Pierce the soil with a shovel or harvest fork about 4-6 inches from the plant. Go straight down and under the root to prevent puncturing the bulb. If you can see and feel well formed cloves, they are ready to harvest. If the bulb is simply round, the cloves need more time to form. Check again each week. Pop them out once cloves are well defined and prepare to cure them.

Curing. Garlic can be eaten "green", uncured, or cured. If you want it to keep for the next 4-6 months, however, it must be cured. After harvesting, knock of any excess dirt at the root to reduce moisture during curing. Tie the plants into bundles and hang in a well ventilated area. This can be a basement, garage, or under a covered patio. I run a fan on mine to ensure air circulation. Be sure your location allows the garlic protection from direct sun or rain. The preferred curing temperatures range from 60-80 degrees for about one month. Cut each bulb from the plant as you need it, or cut them all at once and store them indoors in a low humidity environment.