How do you know when garlic is ready?

Taadaa

So i planted some bulb segments when i put in the onion sets, about March I guess, and the onions are starting to keel over so I know the time for digging is near, but I don't have a clue about the garlic - any thoughts?

Also I want to put in onions and garlic to overwinter, if anyone can tell me the best time to do this I would be grateful.

maxdp

Taadaa wrote: »

So i planted some bulb segments when i put in the onion sets, about March I guess, and the onions are starting to keel over so I know the time for digging is near, but I don't have a clue about the garlic - any thoughts?

Also I want to put in onions and garlic to overwinter, if anyone can tell me the best time to do this I would be grateful.

Hi am sure somebody with lots more knowledge than me will come on here but I pulled mine up because they were bolting and they had been planted inbetween broad beans so had got quite sodden (newbie allotment holder). Anyway I pulled them up and use them as wet garlic and they are beautiful.

buxtonrabbitgreen

I puled my garlic as it had died off and keeled over. The bulbs are very small though. I have just hung it in the coal shed till I need it.

Zazen999

Garlic needs to go in in december and come out in july.

Leave it for as long as possible, but you might not get as big bulbs as you want.

Next year, put it in just before Christmas and take it out on midsummer and you should have garlic that is ready on time.

Onion sets go in around September/October time and are left until May/June...around the spring loosen the soil around the sides of the sets and they soak up the spring rain and fatten up nicely.

Taadaa

The garlic isn't dead yet so will leave it for now, thanks for your advice.

Gebo26

Some varieties of garlic are "hardnecks" and others are "softnecks". Hardneck types will produce a "scape" similar to a flowerhead - in other words they always bolt, this is natural for them.

Softnecks only bolt under conditions of stress.

I normally lift my garlic in July, but this year it is ready now. If left in the ground too long the papery covering which holds the cloves together will disintegrate, particularly if the ground is wet. It's best to dig up a sample to check if it is ready.

Zazen999

Gebo26 wrote: »

I normally lift my garlic in July, but this year it is ready now.

Hi. It IS July!!!

It won't be ready yet if it went in in March...

Gebo26

Hi Zazen,

So it is! I must be losing it!

Mine has been ready since at least the beginning of the month and has all been lifted. It had been badly attacked by rust, though the bulbs are very good.

As you said in an earlier post, it really should be planted by December. Garlic planted in spring will often produce only one - undivided - clove.


Regards,

Gebo26

Smeg77

I've been doing some reading around when to pick Garlic as I also have some growing.

From what I've read most have suggested that you wait until the leaves start to turn brown, which almost makes it look like the plant is dying.

The other thing I found out that I didn't know was that Garlic should be Dry Cured before eating. Most recommend hanging it up in a Dry, Darkish place, and leave for a week. They also recommended that you don't wash the dirt off until after you have let it dry for about a week.

Majestik

My wife planted garlic at the end of last year and lifted most of it at the beginning of June, whilst the tops were still strong and green. The bulbs had not really filled out sufficiently and were small.
I managed to talk her into leaving half the crop a little longer which is now keeling over and dying off. Personally, I think it needs to get to this stage before lifting.
Will post an update once we hopefully get round to lifting these this weekend.

creased-leach

Hi all, first time in this neck of the woods...

we have lots of wild garlic growing in the woods surrounding us- does the same rule apply as to when to pick it? It smells really, really pungent!

Thanks in advance