The best way to remove a garlic bulb depends on the variety you’ve planted. This is the rule of thumb I’ve been following for over 10 years. This leaf will disappear not only above ground but also below.” When a leaf dies, the soil bacteria eat it. The reason for harvesting at the right time is because the bulb is wrapped with leaves. “When it is time to harvest, there will still be plenty of green leaves, but don’t let this stop you. “The first leaf may be hard to see as it could be eaten up already by the soil bacteria,” he explains. You’ll know garlic is ready to pick when the bottom two leaves have died and a third is on its way. But because we all live in different gardening zones and various climates, in general, he says to look for two dead, dry leaves at the base of the plant, with a third leaf that is starting to die. But I did ask him when is garlic ready to harvest because timing is everything.Īl explained that he uses a calendar to determine when to pull his own crops-for example, he always harvests Turban garlic on July 25. I discovered him after reading about the black garlic he grows, but that’s a whole other topic. A few years ago, when I was writing an article for another publication, I interviewed a gentleman from PEI by the name of Al Picketts who has a company called Eureka Garlic.
Even if you don’t intend to eat your garlic scapes, it’s still a good idea to snip them at the base of their stalk so that all the energy can go back into growing the bulb underground.Īfter you cut the garlic scapes, you have about month or so until the garlic itself is ready. If you don’t cut your scapes and leave them on the plant, the bulbils turn into flowers and seeds. I snip off the elf hats and simply use the stalk. Once I have a handful of scapes, I usually whip them into garlic scape pesto (some of which I’ll freeze in ice cube trays). Garlic scapes are ready to harvest when they form a ring or spiral. They’ll be tougher than a younger fresh scape and taste bitter. If the scapes become straight, after they’ve gone through their curling phase, they’re past their prime. Simply cut the scape (I use my herb scissors) at the base where it comes out of the stalk. You’ll know your scapes are ready to pick when they form a spiral. Garlic scapes are easy to discern from the rest of the plant because they kind of look like green onions with a long elf hat (the bulbil) at the end. Not all of my varieties are always ready at the same time, which is nice because I can harvest in batches and enjoy them for longer. Garlic scapes usually start to make their appearance on hardneck garlic sometime in June (this may differ if you’re in a different zone).
Back to back leaf and stem plot how to#
I order my garlic from a local company called Bulbs of Fire.īefore we talk about when to harvest garlic, let’s first discuss how to harvest garlic scapes and ensure they don’t go to waste! When to harvest garlic scapes Another great resource is a book written a few years ago by Canadian author Liz Primeau called In Pursuit of Garlic. Jessica has written a great article about the differences between hardneck and softneck garlic. If I still need space, I’ll pop a few extra here and there in an ornamental garden. I usually spread my garlic crop out over a couple of my raised beds.
I think one of the best things about growing garlic is you get two harvests! But a key thing to note if you’re new to growing it, is when to harvest garlic-and those delicious garlic scapes that come sooner in the season. I like to try different varieties, so I split a bigger order with a couple of other green thumbs and then divvy it up. Every fall, without fail, I place an order. One vegetable I have not had to purchase in several years is garlic.
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