When should I harvest my garlic?
? This question is currently listed as unanswered. If you think you may be able to help with this question, leave Nic a possible answer below.
A couple of days ago, after giving in to curiosity about what was going on under the soil, I had a careful dig around to see how big the garlic cloves were…and they were really tiny – bigger than when I planted them, but definitely not the size that garlic should be. The instructions I got with the garlic cloves said that they would be ready in May, but I can’t see how that is possible now.
So, my question is: should I be expecting a last minute growth spurt from these guys before they start falling over (they look like they are ready to start collapsing soon), or have I done something wrong and should I start facing up to harvesting weeny garlic in a couple of weeks time? Any suggestions / conspiracy theories welcome!
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Nic's Garlic 'Early Wight' progress journal
This entry is about Nic's Garlic 'Early Wight' that
was previously in the Windowsill garden.
London, United Kingdom
Buzz buzz buzz!
Listen in on the Grapevine
The5kgarden wrote:
that always got to me too. I’ve let it go well into summer to and early fall to harvest. have they flowered their scapes on top? (i love a good scape pesto).
Also, how’s the temperature been? has it been cool enuf to slow progress?
Posted on 15 May 08 (about 7 months ago) | delete
Armorel wrote:
Hmm, I’ve never grown garlic before but I thought it had to be planted quite early in autumn while the soil was still warm – maybe November was too late? I had a hunt for a suitable ‘garlic growing advice’ page and came up with this one, hope it give you some inspiration and help, nic :-)
"http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/fruit_veg_mini_project_april_3_garlic.asp
It seems to indicate feeding in June with general purpose plant food and harvesting in August!
Posted on 15 May 08 (about 7 months ago) | delete
Nic wrote:
Thanks for your help guys! The temperature has been quite cool right up until the last couple of weeks, so I guess that and the fact that I might have planted a little late in the season means it’s got quite a few more weeks of growing still left. They haven’t produced any flowers yet (scape pesto sounds great…I’ve gotta remember to try that) so I think thats definitely another sign that its way off harvest. I feel much better about it now – I’ll give them a while longer and see how they are going then I think….
Posted on 16 May 08 (about 7 months ago) | delete
V1rich wrote:
I think I have heard that garlic really does not produce until the second year.
Posted on 16 May 08 (about 7 months ago) | delete
Sylvar wrote:
I’m in zone 6. I plant my garlic in the fall Oct or Nov…although I have planted as late as Jan (Ground was frozen, I bought top soil and manure and build beds to plant in…talk about desparate:)). I have also just planted in the spring. Planting in the fall early enough for the roots to start to develop definately produces a larger crop.
You can pick and use at any time, but to pick for storage I always wait for the tops to start to dry. In my area that is usually Aug-Sept.
Posted on 17 May 08 (about 7 months ago) | delete
Rossi Erik wrote:
I’m in zone 5. We plant in late October to November. Mix in a lot of mulch to the soil. It will give the bulbs the room they need to expand. In the early summer the garlic will send up its seed stalk. These stalks usually start to curl. When the curl is almost a complete circle you need to cut this off so that the energy can go into the bulb and not the flower.(save it and make garlic pesto using your blender) We pick the the garlic in mid to late summer when the ends of the leaves start dying back and are brown/yellow about 1/2 to 1 inch from the end.
Posted on 29 May 08 (about 6 months ago) | delete