Finally, a garlic harvest! The above pictures show the garlic I recently harvested from the vegetable garden. It is a bit dirty as this picture was taken right after harvest. The garlic has since dried and the dirt knocked off. Additionally I trim back the roots and stem with scissors in order to neaten the garlic bulbs up a bit.
Many people do not know when to harvest garlic and I am no expert as you will soon see. However, a general rule of thumb I use is to check the garlic when the foliage begins yellowing and dying back as is shown in the above picture. This technique works well for me. Remember, this garlic has been growing in the ground for about 9 months now and it is probably ready to come out. The problem is that since garlic grows underground it is difficult to determine if it has set cloves or not. I usually dig a plant and check for clove formation once I see the yellowing foliage before I proceed to dig up all the garlic. In this case the garlic was perfect.
Not so in this case and the problem was entirely mine. I did not pay close attention to the foliage and missed it when it began yellowing and dying back. As it so happened, the foliage completely disappeared. Since I knew where the garlic was planted, I just dug down and found all the heads of garlic. Most were okay but several had formed cloves a bit too well. The cloves separated and I wound up with several small cloves instead of one big head of cloves. It is okay. No big deal. I think I have enough garlic to go around and will have plenty for planting this fall too.If you live in the south and haven't yet harvested your garlic you need to do so soon. If you live in the north and are watching your garlic, don't let it get ahead of you like I did. Check it frequently. My poor vegetable garden has been most neglected this year but I hope to soon rectify it. For now I'm....
in the garden....enjoying freshly harvested garlic.
My neighbor across the creek is supposed to be sharing some of their recently harvested garlic with me! I can't wait.
ReplyDeleteI have never harvested my garlic. I just let it come back year after year after year. Just like the way it looks.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting! Have you grown the Elephant garlic? Do onions stay in the ground that long, too? gail
ReplyDeleteJanet, You will love the fresh garlic. So much better than store bought for sure.
ReplyDeleteDarla, I too like it and might just have to plant some in my ornamental beds this fall. It is pretty. Good idea!
Gail, The two huge heads of garlic are elephant garlic. A big big difference from the regular. I think elephant garlic tastes like regular garlic, but it is easier to peel and handle. I usually plant onions in either February or the fall and leave in the ground until June too. But honestly, I've not had luck getting bulb sized onions, just green onions so I need to learn about them myself. Now garlic, that is easy.
Congratulations!! Your garlic looks beautiful. I didn't know garlic took nine months!! WOW! I'm not very fond of the garlic flavor, but I would still grow, if it only to do draw still lives.
ReplyDeleteI can't cook without garlic! I wonder if ours did anything. I put it in very late more to experiment than anything else. I'll definitely be getting ready for a fall garlic planting soon.
ReplyDeleteHi Tina, yum yum! This is our second year of growing garlic, other than just one or two cloves from store bought. This time we ordered special from seed savers and it was fabulous. I like to braid mine after it cures a little so leave the stalks long, makes for a pretty batch. I was wondering if I can plant the year old heads this year, or must they be fresh from the same year? I have some left over, the largest ones that were to be saved to plant from last year's harvest. No harm in trying I suppose. Maybe some from both new and old for comparison. What do you think?
ReplyDeleteFrances
Excellent post. I am a garlic bloke like Javier Bardem in 'Jamon, Jamon'. I never knew how it was harvested, so million thanks.
ReplyDeleteGreetings from London.
Hi Tina, I have never harvested mine. I should dig it up just to see how the bulbs look. I don't use a lot in cooking so I let it grow as an ornamental. Looks a lot like chives.
ReplyDeleteMarnie
Hi Tina,
ReplyDeleteWATCH OUT vampires!
Your garlic is looking good!
I need to grow some of this!
Rosey
This was really interesting Tina! I didn't know garlic could stay in the ground so long! Sounds like you are going to be doing some tasty cooking! Ummmm...! :)
ReplyDeleteYummmie! I love fresh garlic, I'll have to research how long it takes up here, or do you know?
ReplyDeleteWe cook with garlic on a regular basis in this house! We love the stuff but the scent coming out of our pores in the summer months is not so great. hee hee...
ReplyDeleteThe Saint tried to grow garlic one time while we were in Germany with no luck. We have never tried it here in GA but with the sad luck we seem to have with veggies in this yard, we probably will not try it. Although, it may be worth a try in the flower garden as you all seem to think the foliage is nice. Hum, something to think about...
Jealous. I didn't grow any this year - next year for sure. What are you gonna be cooking this weekend?!! I have a recipe for chicken with 26 cloves of garlic. Very easy and yummy. Will email if I find it.
ReplyDeleteWow Tina, that looks like a lot of garlic to me but I guess if you use it like I do, it will be gone in nearly a flash. Garlic is great on nearly everything.
ReplyDeleteLola I hope you are mending well.
It looks great, and thanks for the tips. I'm growing it for the first time in many years and had forgotten to check on it in awhile.
ReplyDeleteLzyjo, It takes that long here in my garden. I plant in October and harvest sometime in June usually. It is an easy plant to grow though and doesn't take much room.
ReplyDeleteDave, I've been cooking up a storm with mine. I love it in everything, as does the family. It especially makes the house smell good. Sounds weird but it is a comforting scent.
Frances, I usually replant my cloves if I have any left in October. I've done this for about 5 years now and have had no problem. I've read to use the largest cloves and that makes sense, but as long as growing conditions are good then anyone can get a good harvest. A comparison of your experiences would be most helpful and much appreciated. I feel like I am missing something by not doing the seeds and special varieties, but it works all the same for me.
ACIL, Garlic is most delicious! I probably should have posted a final picture. You can't tell the fresh harvested from store bought once it is dried and cleaned. Most fun veggie to grow and eat.
Marnie, You and Darla do the same thing. I am thinking I'll be planting some ornamental cloves in the flower garden this year. I have just the spot too.
Rosey, Nope, no vampires here. Too too much garlic for sure:)
Linda, I left some of the garlic in the ground too long so you must watch for that. For the most part this is a long season grower. I mince it up and add it to almost everything I cook. Even things I don't like philly cream cheese. That is a great spread on crackers this time of year.
Dawn, Dan at Urban Veggie Plot grows it up in Canada. I seem to recall he planted his the same time as me and harvested it about the same time so I think it would be similar. The one thing I'd do though is plant it in September so it can get established before the hard freezes set in. It will die back in winter but then bounces back in April for your zone.
Skeeter, A few dollars at the grocery store is all you are out if it does not work. Try it this fall and let us know how it goes. It is a most fun and undemanding vegetable to grow. Nothing beats fresh garlic and tomatoes and basil this time of year.
JGH, If you find that recipe email it to me for sure. That would be a great way to use a lot of this garlic. Usually I give most of it away but have been so busy this year it is still in the house here.
Mom, It lasts here until next spring usually. I save some to replant in the fall and do cook with it a lot, but this is a lot of garlic for sure. It would do great in your garden. Plant in September.
Catherine, Don't forget it. I was most disappointed I let it go too long this year. But it's okay, all was not lost. You'll enjoy it so much fresh.
I'm impressed you grow your own garlic! I bet they taste 100 times better than from the store! Do you peel them now and store them fresh or let it sit out on the shelf? Nothing better than roasted garlic/olive oil on french baguette!
ReplyDeleteTina, I never thought I'd be jealous of garlic but I am!!! Lovely harvest..and I didn't realize it stayed that long. I leave ginger where it's planted because I like to use the leaves. They do show up every year around April. Now I'll do that with garlic. Loved reading all the details!
ReplyDeleteHi All.
ReplyDeleteTina that was very informative. I have tried garlic {from the store} but didn't know all the details. Thanks. I do believe I will try it again.
My niece in N.Y. has left hers in the ground for 2/3 yrs. in order for the bulbs to get bigger. Don't know about that.
Hi Anonymous, Skeeter, Dawn, Jean & Nina. I hope your day is going splendidly.
A short note---my surgery went fine. Vision has not cleared as yet. Will take time.
Lola, am glad to hear your surgery went well. My MIL had eye surgery in the past and it does take some time to get the vision clear but worth it all once healed. Hang in there and stay away from the sunny skies and dont walk into any walls with your blurry vision! :-)
ReplyDeleteI've never grown garlic so this was all quite interesting to me. Maybe I'll have to try it sometime. I swear blogging is such an influence on me - good or bad? LOL Look now I have a crabapple tree, blue huckleberry bush, strawberries, tomatoes and zucchini. LOL Next I'll have ducks a mule and chickens. Oh I'd love that for sure - anything fuzzy.
ReplyDeleteDuring October and Halloween, we hang wreaths made from garlic cloves to keep the vampires away. But I always thought halitosis worked just as well, especially after eating the stuff.
ReplyDeleteDon't you feel wealthy when you harvest something like this? And thanks for your information on the harvest details, many of them were new to me.
ReplyDeleteI'd say it's fine to plant old cloves as long as they're still plump and juicy. Better to make them into an anti-vampire necklace when they get all shriveled and dry.
I have never grown garlic, you have inspired me to try it next year. I will have to find out when to start it here in the northeast. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYum! Does home grown garlic taste better than store bought? I wonder. Very cool, I wonder if I can grow garlic in Zone 10, I'll have to check it out. Tina, I think you have the informative garden blog on the web. Thanks :)
ReplyDeleteI will have to try my own garlic, since I use it in so many recipes.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for you kind comments. The garlic is really really good.
ReplyDeleteI'm growing garlic the first time this year, but I didn't plant it until June. I don't know if it overwinters, so I'm going to check one of mine in late September (if it didn't yellow first)... It's so complicated! :)
ReplyDeleteI really want to try this in my own little veggie patch. Did you plant it in the fall?
ReplyDeleteMonica, Let us know how it goes. Fresh garlic is so good!
ReplyDeleteRacquel, Yes, I plant mine in late September to late October. It stays in the ground all winter. Come spring I can interplant or whatever. It does not take up much room. It is fun to grow, has a pretty flower and tastes good!
garlic is wonderful to grow. My home garden has been much neglected since summer school began, but I did go into it yesterday after work.
ReplyDelete