When to remove garlic from the garden and how to dig it up

When to remove garlic from the garden

It all depends on the type of garlic. Winter (the one that imprisoned autumn) are dug from about mid-July to early August. Spring (planted in spring) ripens later, so it is harvested during August and even early September.

But these are only approximate dates. Depending on the climate and weather, they may shift. Therefore, it is better to focus on the appearance of plants.

How to understand that the garlic is ripe and it's time to dig it out

The arrow will tell you about the ripeness of winter garlic if you have not broken it out before. If the shell on the inflorescence burst and young seeds appeared, then the head is already ready for harvest. By the way, spring garlic does not have arrows.

Another sure sign of the ripening of both winter and spring garlic is the massive yellowing and drying of the lower leaves of plants.

How to remove garlic from the garden

Start harvesting in dry weather. It is desirable that there is no precipitation a few days before the procedure so that the soil is garden and vegetable garden was light and not saturated with moisture.

Do not pull vegetables out of the ground, holding on to the tops, as this can damage the heads. Better use a garden fork. If you've mulched your beds, remove the cover layer so it's out of the way. Step back about 10-15 cm from the garlic row, stick the pitchfork into the ground.

Raise the earthen ball together with the heads. Carefully remove the garlic, holding on to the base of the leaves.

Clean vegetables from large clods of soil with your palms. Do not tap the heads on the ground or against each other, so as not to damage them.

Spread the garlic on the bed in a single layer and leave for 2-3 hours to dry out a little.

After that, find a well-ventilated place in the shade under a canopy, for example in pergola or on the veranda. Spread the garlic in a single layer on a flat surface. You can also tie it in bunches of 10-15 pieces and hang it on a rope with its heads down.

Drying the garlic will take two to four weeks. When the leaves are completely yellow and brittle, cut them off the head, leaving a 4-5 cm stump. Clean the vegetables of dirt residues with your hands or a soft brush.

What to do with garlic after digging and drying

Pick your crop carefully. Set aside the largest heads - they can be used as planting material. Discard damaged ones, small ones are best eaten immediately. Send large and strong specimens for the winter. How to properly store garlic in different ways, read in our material.