Harvesting and Storing Garlic

Around July, your garlic's leaves should start to turn yellow and die back. This tells you they're getting ready for harvest. Many gardeners wait to harvest until about half of the leafy growth has turned brown -- usually sometime in August or September. If you're not sure if it's time to gather your garlic, carefully dig one of the bulbs and see if the cloves are filling up the skin or wrapper.

When it's time to harvest, carefully dig up the bulbs, being careful not to separate the cloves. (Don't yank them out of the ground by the leaves like you would a carrot.) Cut the leaves back to an inch tall, and brush off the soil to clean them. Leave your garlic to dry in a warm spot for about four weeks so it can cure.

Many growers like to braid their garlic. To do this, braid the foliage together immediately after harvest, and hang the braided bulbs in a warm, dry spot for several weeks to cure.

Store garlic in a cool spot (less than 40 degrees F.) until you can use it. Properly cured garlic will usually hold for about 6 months.