When to Harvest Garlic + a unique tip for curing and storage

When I first began gardening, my biggest question with garlic was knowing when it was ready to harvest.

In this video, I show you the signs your garlic is ready to harvest. Plus, I give some other tips on harvesting, storing, and curing garlic so you can use yours for months.

More for beginning gardeners:

[cristenjacobs]

Hi there ! Enjoyed this video -
My husband was a farmer in his 20s and early 30s
He made a suggestion-
He said to let you know to hang your garlic upside down- with the green stems hanging down-
This helps to draw the moisture out of the bulbs.. he says that if you hang them with the bulb down, you’ll have moisture running down from their stems into the bulbs, thus causing a longer dry out time .. or cure ..
he says they’ll eventually dry out either way- but wanted to make sure you know it’s helpful to hang them upside down.

Loved your video!!

[RepoMom]

This the the clearest, most concise garlic-related video I've seen. Thank you!

[ANDRESARKISSIAN]

I’m listening to your video with earbuds on every time a fly flew by your mic. I think it’s landing on my ear and I keep on shaking my head. It gets me every time watching your video!😂😂😂

[rogermichna]

My Father and I have planted the same garlic for over 50 years in PA. Plant in Sept or Oct about 2 inches deep. I use fertilizer about 3, 4 inches deep. Occasionally weed in spring and harvest in July. Let dry out away from rain for a week or two. Save some for next year in a dry pretty dark place. It is extremely hardy and grows almost anywhere.

[praywithpio]

Plant in November, harvest in June when half the leaves are brown. Dig them up, don't pull by the leaves. Hang them separated and out of direct sunlight.

[marleymcdermott]

Everything I need to know in 5 minutes. Thank you.

[tatumsimpson]

I have watched so many garlic harvesting videos before This one. FINALLY - I am no longer confused. It's 3 weeks to Spring, so I've found this video just in time!

[theondebray]

Nice, helpful. I like garlic for many reasons: I underplant my roses and other sensitive / fruiting plants with garlic, helps to keep insect pests & fungal infections at bay. Its a natural antiseptic, eat loads & wound heal better & quicker, as eaten by the resistance forces during WW2, and applied as a mash directly onto wounds (painful). Its good for reducing blood pressure, and improving your complexion. It grows ANYWHERE, so it goes into any little space in my garden, is fully hardy, and no pests attack it (not in my garden anyway). Young garlic is mild, can be used in many ways in cooking, or chopped into salads - as long as your spouse / partner likes it too. Oh and it stops the cat from using newly dug beds for his toilet.

[beethethi]

Thank you, Jill!
I waited too long, but only one or two garlic heads had separated cloves. All of your information is extremely useful. 🙏👍

[nikkipattillo]

This is awesome. I have my first ever 18 garlic plants going. They look good and had absolutely no idea that I needed to take these few additional steps to dry it and store it. Thank you for making such a clear and simple video!

[dougadams]

Great tips. I live in northern Ontario where winter temps routinely reach -30 to -40 F. I plant my bulbs on 6 to 7 inch squares and 6 inches deep in late October just before the ground freezes. When the 4 to 5 feet of snow melts in late April or early May, the green tips are already showing through the ground. I cut the stapes off when they are curled, dip them in thousand island dressing and cook on low heat on the bbq. I don't get fancy with mesh gates but I do tie them up in bunches and hang in the wood shed to dry for a couple weeks. After saving the best cloves to plant again, the rest are divided and put in the freezer to use all year. Some are thawed and de-skinned in the fall when I make my sausages from moose, bear or beaver and they are just as good as fresh cloves.

[hermawanpraya]

hay, Jill .. thanks for sharing. my high appreciation from Praya, Lombok Tengah, NTB, Indonesia.

[toendramist]

Mix the greens of the plants with (himalaya) salt in a kitchen machine to a green paste.
Put the resulting green paste on a silk screen in a food drier.|
When the resulting crusts are completely dry, grind them to powder.
I guarantee, you will have need for more of this garlic salt.

[gofigure]

Dear Jill.I thank you very much for this enjoyable and highly interesting and informative demonstation.l learned a lot, and really do appreciate this very well presented doc.kind regards

[reneebarone]

This is the best explanation I’ve see so far. Makes sense why my garlic got moldy or brown marks. I waited to long to harvest. I didn’t know either, that’s why the bulbs separate. Thank you. I also kept telling my husband they need more air between the bunches.

[ameliatribeofissachar]

Thank you so much for explaining. I did plant some but I didnt know these very important details you brought out. Bless you

[fieldtrippin]

Garlic is great! Easy to grow, tasty to eat. Happy gardening to you all.

[outsea]

Thanks for the short and to the point video, will be harvesting my garlic next week. Had a good crop (30 or so plants), was going to cure them in the hot house (lots of sunshine), now will move them to the shed/workshop.

[britneyw]

clear and informative, and i enjoy the tip for using your fence to let them cure. thank you!

[jadegrant]

Thanks for the tips! I’m a newbie gardener so this was very helpful 💕