Garlic is one of my favorite crops to grow. Plant it in November and let the winter rains support it into the first bulk harvest of the summer. It’s a kitchen staple, rightfully included in almost every dinner recipe out there. With each bulb that I grow, I feel like I’m connecting with a millennia of other gardeners who cherished the folklore, flavor, and medicinal value of this staple crop.

Each July, I harvest enough garlic to cure and store in a way that lasts me all year. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the entire process, so you can maximize your own garlic harvest in quantity and  quality.

Are you planting garlic instead of harvesting? Read my post on how I sow garlic and care for it organically in my garden.

Garlic Harvest Preparation Tips

Stop Fertilizing: Once you see a scape starting to form, there’s no need to fertilize your garlic any more with the standard nitrogen amendments.

Remove Scapes: If you’re growing a kind of garlic that makes a scape, remove them once they’ve formed a curve. For me in zone 7, that happens in June. This will help your garlic plant focus solely on making a nice head underground, instead of true garlic seed above ground.

Stop Watering: Once you see that 2 leaves have browned on your garlic plants, stop watering them. This will help them to keep longer in storage.

When I harvest my garlic: Signs of a Mature Garlic Plant

Garlic leaves are a natural gauge for maturity. When at least 3 leaves have browned and died back, it's time to harvest.

For best results, I always pick my garlic when there’s been no rain for a couple of days.

If you have no rain in the forecast, let your garlic tops die back for as long as possible. A study published in 2021 found that if you harvest garlic heads when 100% of the leaves have died back, you can increase your garlic storage yield by around 16%. However, harvesting at 80% leaf dieback will prevent your garlic bulbs from shriveling a bit during storage.

Tip → Ideal Time of Day: The best time of day to harvest garlic is in the early morning or around sunset when temperatures are cooler.

Tools I like to use:

• Large box, basket or wheelbarrow: To transport your harvest without damage.
• Labels and elastics: For organizing different garlic varieties during the curing process.

How I harvest garlic:

1. Lift the Bulbs Gently:
   • Gently lift the bulbs from the soil, pulling from the green stem just above the soil surface.
2. Tap Off Excess Soil:
   • Shake off any loose soil on the garlic bulbs. I just tap them on the soil surface a few times or simply brush the dirt off.
3. Do not Rinse!
   • Keep your bulbs dirty! Washing can introduce moisture that may lead to rot during curing.

Personal Tip: I always harvest with a wheelbarrow and a large box or basket. This makes transporting the garlic easy and keeps the bulbs intact. Plus, it’s a great way to keep my varieties organized!

My Pre-Curing Preparation Plan

Cleaning:

• Remove any clinging dirt gently with your hands.
• Trim the roots slightly if they are excessively long or have dirt clods on them.
• Trim off the garlic leaves so that around 12-18 inches remain

Initial Sorting:

• Inspect each bulb for signs of disease or damage. Set aside any bulbs that aren’t perfect—they’re still great for fresh use in the kitchen!

Easy Curing Process

Curing garlic is what helps it to last all year in your pantry. The process allows the garlic to dry out, intensify its flavors, too.

• Group the garlic into clusters of around 8 heads
• Use an elastic to secure the group together at the leaves. I usually fold the leaves over into a loop
• Insert a label into the elastic
• Hang the bunch of garlic somewhere cool, out of direct sunlight, and dry. I use hooks and hang them off the side of metal pantry shelves.

Environment:

• Ideal conditions for curing are temperatures between 60-70°F (15-21°C) with good ventilation and low humidity. An airy garage, shed, or covered porch works well, but I have luck hanging them to dry in my pantry.

Duration:

• Typically, curing takes 2-4 weeks. You’ll know it’s done when the outer skins are papery, and the bulbs are firm to the touch.

Chef’s Tip: You can still cook with fresh garlic! You’ll still need to peel the skin, which will be soft instead of papery. The garlic flavor is mellow and has sweet undertones when its fresh. You might even want to try a raw clove!

Monitoring:

• Check periodically to ensure the garlic isn’t exposed to excessive moisture, which can lead to mold.

Personal Tip: Labeling garlic varieties at harvest helps me keep track of my favorites and assess their performance.

How I Store Garlic so it lasts for 1 year:

Proper storage is crucial for maintaining garlic’s quality and extending its usability.

Storage Conditions:

• If you want to be precise, a study found that ideal storage temperature is 32°F (0°C) with 60-70% humidity. However, this is difficult to obtain in most homes. For me, my pantry is the coolest spot in the house as it faces east and is far away from the wood stove.
• Don’t store garlic in the fridge since excess moisture can trigger sprouting.

Storage Options:

• Mesh bags: Once garlic is fully cured, trim the leaves off and store in mesh bags, which allow for good air circulation.
• Wooden crates: Once garlic is fully cured, trim the leaves off and store in crates, which are a rustic and functional storage solution.
• Braids: Practical, ancestral, and adds a decorative touch to your kitchen.
• Clusters: I just keep my garlic clusters hung on pantry shelves throughout the year.

Avoid Issues:

• Prevent mold by ensuring garlic is fully cured before storage. Sprouting can be minimized by keeping the bulbs in a cool, dry place.

Seed Saving Tips

Saving garlic seed is both economical and beneficial for preserving the best traits of your garlic crop.

Selection Criteria:

• Choose the largest, healthiest bulbs for seed saving. Big bulbs typically produce big cloves, which in turn grow into robust plants.

Storage:

• Store seed garlic in a cool, dry place separate from your culinary garlic. Proper labeling is essential to track different varieties.

Personal Tip: Think of garlic multiplication as a rewarding puzzle. From saving one bulb in Year 1 to potentially harvesting 512 heads in Year 3, it’s fascinating to watch your garlic supply grow exponentially.

Maximizing Garlic Production

Harvesting Challenges:

• Wet Weather: Harvest only when the soil is dry to avoid compacted soil and damaged bulbs.
• Compacted Soil: Gently loosen the soil with a fork to prevent bulb damage.

Curing Problems:

• Improper Curing: Signs include soft bulbs or mold. Ensure good air circulation and maintain appropriate humidity levels to correct this.

Environmental Benefits of Garlic Farming

Garlic’s natural pest-repellent properties reduce the need for chemical pesticides, promoting a healthier ecosystem. Integrating garlic into a permaculture garden can enhance soil health, deter pests, and promote biodiversity.

Cook with Your Homegrown Garlic Year-round!

Properly harvesting, curing, and storing garlic requires attention to detail, but the rewards are well worth the effort. By following these steps, you’ll enjoy a bountiful and flavorful garlic harvest that lasts well into the next growing season.

Bonus: Now you'll be able to fend off vampires! Garlic really offers so many benefits ;)

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Garlic Harvesting + Storage FAQ

When to harvest garlic?

Harvest garlic when 3 or more of its leaves have browned and died back. For best results, do not water your garlic plants once 1 leaf starts to die back, and don't harvest within a day of rainfall.

What month do you normally harvest garlic?

Fall-planted garlic is usually ready to harvest in July for zones 5-8. In zones 9 and 10, you might harvest it in June. In zones 4 and under, you might harvest your garlic in August or September.

When do you cut off garlic scapes?

Cut off garlic scapes once they've made a loop. Chop them up and add them to your stirfries!

Why do you need to cut off garlic scapes?

The garlic scape eventually becomes the true seed of the garlic plant. Since the garlic plant wants to multiply, it will focus its energy on getting the scape to maturity. As gardeners, though, we want the garlic plant to focus on growing its bulb. Picking off the scape encourages the garlic plant to fully develop its head for your enjoyment. If you don't harvest the garlic scape, your garlic bulbs will be small with few cloves.

Can you eat garlic right after harvesting?

Yes! And it's delicious! However, you'll still need to peel the skin off. Instead of being papery, it will be soft and pliable. Use a knife to chop of a small amount of the tip or base of each clove to help with peeling it properly. Try fresh garlic raw - it has a surprisingly mellow taste.

How long should garlic cure after harvesting?

Hang garlic to cure for 3-4 weeks for best results. You'll know your garlic is properly cured when the skin is very papery and dry.