How long to maturity garlic

I hate losing any of my garlic, but worse than that is buying garlic in the grocery store; it has no taste. I planted my first crop of garlic in October. When do you plant it that it is ready July 14th? Most northern climates should have garlic in the ground by the first frost no later than early November. It takes about 8 months to mature.

Ainniz, I have been planting garlic for 18 years. Have tried storing cool and storing warm. Tried hanging in small bunches etc. What I do now is at first of the year, peel all garlic while still very firm. Put in food processor and mince.

If need to add some good olive oil while mincing. I use a paper punch and punch a lot of holes in a large paper grocery bag and store my garlic on the top shelf in my pantry. It works great. I save all my mesh bags—-from oranges etc—I planted in oct at 2 week intervals and just cut the scapes in june—-in surrey BC.

Hi there. Thanks for a helpful post. One however seems to have had its top completely lopped off by a squirrel. Should I pull it out? Or can it survive without its top greenery? Apologies for the late response to this question, but for future reference, you should pull out any garlic in that situation and use it right away.

It will not continue to grow without its leaves. Can you leave a bulbs in the ground each year to keep dividing, and raise them as a perennial crop like multiplying onions?

I have had garlic in same place for 36 yrs. I live in the south. I have no idea what the name of the garlic is. This garlic comes up around January and then it will have large seeded blooms.

I have an extensive garlic crop growing, and, I am waiting, but, I have found in my climate, you just keep planting it, and you will get a crop throughout the year. I do use the leaves often in cooking. They are sweet, sharp and have the good garlic flavor, so, to me, the plant can be utilized before harvest.

And, to germinate the cloves is easy. Stagger the planting, and over time you can have an abundance of garlic. I live in California zone 9. In your experience would my climate be suitable for year round garlic planting and harvesting? What I am doing is always germinating cloves to plant at any time of the year. You have to wait though as the winter months have less sunshine and the angle of the sun in relationship to the Earth is such that any obstruction, tree, fence, etc, limits the available direct sunlight.

So, the time to harvest does vary. Now, if you want to get your garlic ahead of things and know if you have a viable plant, do this. Get the very thin kebab skewers and take single cloves, with the skin on, and rack them up. You will also see definite roots.

I did transplant some of the garlic from a big pot to a garden soil. That was a death blow! I harvested some, but, I am disappointed. However, I just keep germinating the cloves. And, the key is keeping them in the same soil. So, the really healthy ones failed…. But, I have to admit…. There was a large cat that decided to choose this area for napping!

Oh well……. Garlic leaves are one of my favorite things to cook with! What amazes me most is the number of crops you get off of it.

Early in the year the leaves start growing, my grandaughter and I chop them off all the time and munch them raw. Pick the best ones for next years planting and start all over again.

I love your top-to-tail use of garlic. Nevertheless I generally get a good harvest. So we eat the over- and under-ripe garlic first, and the rest can keep in a cool place until around the time of the next harvest … although a few cloves will have sprouted or gone mouldy by then.

We live on a small property. We have fruit trees, some espaliered, including apples, plums, peaches, citrus and feijoas.

We have a couple of grape vines and some blueberry bushes. I love to grow tomatoes in the season. It is winter here and we are picking lettuce, rocket, kale, swiss chard, parsley, mint and the leaves from some young broad beans. Our parsnips look like they are just about ready, and there are a few carrots left.

I planted the garlic about six weeks before the shortest day, and it is looking very good. I am fortunate to be able to harvest wild meat from the neighborhood. Where do you live now Ross? Oh, I spent plenty of time on the South Island. I live in Campbell, California. So, we get some mild weather.

I knew a guy who had a ranch outside of Tauranga. But, he was a sheep and cattle guy. I also was a chef, or cook, for a Bed and Breakfest in Methven,,,, I have a whole bunch of things growing that are coming to fruition, and some that have bolted.

But, the plants focus more on the flower and less on the leaf. But, you get the seeds. I bought a house that has garlic planted they are tall and have green balls with a leaf over them. DO I dig up the inground garlic or eat the tops only? If I dig up the bulbs will they grow next year or do I have to replant?

Hardneck garlic will often send up flower stalks that are tall and stiff. You can cut off the flowers and eat them, if you wish. After harvesting, the garlic needs to be replanted.

Do I have to replant the ones I dig up? The whole bulb or just one piece of it? What position and when do I plant if for next year? This post was perfect for information content. Now, how do I deal with the moles that compromise the root system of some of my garlic??!!!

Sticky traps around your beds. So wht i do is set a lettuce with 4 sticky traps and eventually you will catch one. To keep em away entirely , use grounded Cayenne pepper spice , they hate this stuff and will keep away. I have had them in the garden for 3 years now and they seem to be no where ready yet, just dug one out and its like a anorexic spring onion. Just harvested garlic that was left in the ground too long.

Would I be able to freeze these cloves in oil? Do I dry them first, or process them right away? Thanks, Jane. You can freeze them right away. Please advise. Also, FYI, I have two types of garlic that grows along a portion of my yard. The first produces a large bulb. I never plant this particular garlic, yet it appears every year for the last 25 years. Some years will produce more than others, though it has not failed me during the mentioned time frame. A second includes an Italian garlic that produces a smaller bulb that is red in color.

This garlic is much more zestier, and is a product of seeds that I tossed along the area six or seven years ago. Thank you for your time and consideration. Some types of garlic form bulbils, which look like tiny cloves of garlic, and reseed in that way. Is this true? If you plant cloves of hardneck garlic in fall, scapes will appear in spring and you can harvest the bulbs in summer.

On most garlic , when the scape loop starts forming , you must top it off , otherwise , the plants energy is focused on flowering instead of producing nice sized bulbs. Did you plant garlic that was bought at a store , like a chinese variety? If so , maybe the genetics are not accustomed to our weather and climate. I bought my first garlic sets off a mennonite organic farmer a few years ago from my immediate area , and all i can say is WOW great genetics and quality and the taste is second to none , Maybe you should try the same.

Hi thanks for the info… totally new at this and now my garlic plant is curling up with several strands in the center, is this what you call looping or scapes? Is a flower going to grow there next? Planted it in fall in So. Zone 9 or 10? Hearing different advice on this?

Also I was plucking some of the long green thin leaves and eating them raw and now some of those leave ends are now forming a kind of dry blunt end to them? Please anybody Help? Thank you, this has been very helpful. It is my first year growing garlic and the pictures sure did help. I want to grow some ginger and garlic in containers on my deck. Garlic can be planted in spring or in fall. Spring planted garlic is harvested late in the summer or early autumn.

Fall planted garlic is harvested in mid-summer, the summer after fall planting. Fall planted garlic will produce larger bulbs and cloves than spring-planted garlic. Cool temperatures at planting time are important for garlic to establish its extensive root system. Planting tips: Planting Garlic. More tips: Garlic Plant Starting Tips. Harvest tips: How to Harvest and Store Garlic.

More tips: Fall and Spring-Planted Garlic. Your email address will not be published. Post Comment. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. This disease is exhibited by fluffy, fuzzy fungal growth on the stem and bulb of plants that quickly causes them to rot and die. Avoid re-sowing in plots with the disease if you notice an infection — white rot can last in the soil for two decades — and remove infected plants quickly.

The garlic harvest typically starts a few weeks after summer begins, if you have planted in the fall. Hot summer weather triggers bulb maturation, shutting down foliage growth in preparation for dormancy. One is when a bit more than half of the lower leaves turn yellow and dry out. Hardneck varieties will have leaves that brown and dry, but retain an upright flower stem.

With softnecks, all of the leaves will flop over as bulbs mature. Or, you can dig up a couple of bulbs around mid-July and check their size. To harvest, loosen the soil around and under the roots with a garden fork or hand trowel. Provide up to 12 inches of ease out from the plant stem to avoid damaging bulbs. Gently grasp the neck of each plant close to the bulb and work it out of the soil. Avoid pulling hard on the leaves if the bulbs are resistant.

Instead, work your fingers under the base of the bulb and gently lift to release from the soil. Read more about harvesting garlic here. Curing is the term for the thorough drying required for flavors to develop fully, and it helps to ensure a long storage life, free from discoloration and rot. Just clean, peel, and enjoy — no need to wait to complete the curing process!

Freshly harvested garlic typically has a milder flavor than cured bulbs. You can even pull up whole plants in spring, preparing and eating the undeveloped bulbs like leeks. Bulbs can be dried whole with the scapes still attached and braided into attractive bunches. Or, you can clip them off after harvest — just make sure you leave 7 or more inches of stalk attached to the bulb, which will help it to cure by drawing moisture away from the cloves.

If the stalk still feels moist and pliant, allow bulbs to cure for another week or two before storing. If you clipped your garlic instead, store it in loose piles in containers that permit airflow — preferably in breathable crates, boxes, or shelves. Bamboo steamers make handy storage containers for bulbs. Curing can take anywhere from 4 to 6 weeks. You can then cut off any leftover plant material and store as you like — in a dry basket in a cool, dark cupboard, or in a paper bag in the fridge.

Being careful to keep them intact and without breaking them up into cloves, set aside the largest heads in a dark and dry place for use as seed next year. Use the smaller ones in your cooking. Read more about curing and storing garlic here.

One of the best and most obvious reasons to grow it in your own backyard is for culinary purposes! Crush, slice, mince, chop, or throw whole cloves into your desired dish for a punch of added flavor. Garlic makes a pivotal contribution to the flavor of soups, stews, and broths. You can also roast whole heads, making them into a delicious spread for bread, or a garnish for protein dishes, roasted vegetables, or homemade pizza. Garlic is a staple ingredient in pesto, along with basil, pine nuts, olive oil, and cheese.

The flavorful scapes make an excellent addition, too. Get the recipe on our sister site, Foodal. For a flavorful side dish, these parsley mashed potatoes are the smoothest and the creamiest. Get the recipe now on Foodal. You can find the recipe on Foodal. For the very best health benefits, enjoy the cloves raw as often as you can — it can be a challenge, though! Raw cloves can have an overwhelming flavor and heat, and consuming them might cause indigestion or stomach cramps in some individuals, so be cautious.

Some studies like this one have found, however, that a cold-water press of the cloves, such as in a warm or cold tea, can retain some allicin, and may work as a mild antimicrobial tisane. It would be nowhere near as powerful as the fresh stuff, though! According to this study , consuming garlic regularly as a culinary herb provides allicin and other beneficial phytonutrients that may boost health and immunity.

The bulbs also contain another potent compound called ajoene, with some studies pointing to its anti-tumor and diabetes management possibilities. The health information in this article is not intended to assess, diagnose, prescribe, or promise cure. Consult with your health care professional before considering any plant-based remedies for your health and wellness. Getting more garlic into your life is easy enough already: you can just go to the store, bring some home, and cook it up, in whatever way and with whatever foods you like.

With your own bulbs to enjoy straight from your yard, you can feel the amazing benefits, satisfaction, and ownership of having nurtured your very own plants — and oftentimes, growing your own makes for even tastier and healthier food! What gardening, culinary, and healing experiences have YOU had with garlic? Let us know in the comments below. See our TOS for more details. Uncredited photos: Shutterstock. Originally published on May 5, Last updated on December 5, She aims to bridge the world of natural, holistic health and nutrition to the realm of organic foods, herbalism, gardening, and sustainability - or "Food as Medicine" - throughout her writing.

Hi Adrian, Thanks for your epic guide! Nice article; I planted a goodly amount this year and am starting to harvest because of some issues.

Good coverage. Hi Great article. Extremely informative. I shared with my garden group. Sliced a little bit crushed put in bandaid and cover.

Garlic is a Favorite food and I also take it in supplement form. Allium sativum and A. Softnecks Here are a few of the main softneck subspecies to consider: Silverskins These silvery-white, thin-skinned softnecks are very easy to grow, with the best storage capacity of all types. Artichokes These have thicker skins and many complex layers of cloves like an artichoke, from whence they got their name. As the hardiest softneck variety, this is a good option for growing in colder regions.

Did You Know? A Note of Caution The health information in this article is not intended to assess, diagnose, prescribe, or promise cure.