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Garlic - is it ready to harvest?

Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
in Fruit & veg
Is my garlic ready to harvest?  Prior to my visit to the allotment today it was standing upright…….

Posts

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Hmm, have you seen the flower spikes yet? I usually leave mine until the leaves go yellow, but I don't know if that's necessary. The bulbs will be close to the surface, so you could have a gentle look and see what's there. My guess is 'not yet'
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • EmptyheadtimeEmptyheadtime Posts: 366
    I pulled mine yesterday as they had gone flat and leaves were turning yellow. Your leaves are still quite green so I would be tempted to leave them a bit more but you can always move some soil and have a peek at one or two to gauge there size.
  • Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
    Thank you both for your advice.  Would it do the garlic harm if I propped it up, or is it best left alone?
  • war garden 572war garden 572 Posts: 664
    try waiting another 2 months
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    Hi Steady Eddie

    Mine have looked like yours for a couple of weeks now.  I'm going off this (American) site:

    Leaf color remains the most efficient and reliable way of knowing when to harvest your garlic. The right time to harvest garlic is when the leaves are brown and dried up. As a general rule, there should be an equal amount of brown dried leaves and green live leaves. 

    If you wait for all of the leaves to turn dry, it could be too late. And if you harvest late, garlic heads may split open and may become unusable as they become infected or damaged.



    I assume that what applies in the USA is the same in the UK.



    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
    Thank you all for your help. I shall wait patiently for the green growth to turn more brown……..
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Steady Eddie said:
    Thank you both for your advice.  Would it do the garlic harm if I propped it up, or is it best left alone?
    I doubt it would harm it, if you're gentle but don't stake it. You could try putting a square of short canes around them, then tying string around the post to make a little fence as a support (like you'll see advised for broad beans) to keep them off the ground a bit
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • InTheMoorlandsInTheMoorlands Posts: 161
    @raisingirl there can be quite a few reasons why garlic falls over, as outlined here:


    I've just been to check on mine and have been surprised to find that they have picked up quite a bit:



    The hot weather must have affected them even though i watered every day.  I don't think that i would tie mine up now, as them falling over seems to be an important indicator of what's going on.

    BUT - I must confess, that this will be my third attempt at growing garlic and I've not yet suceeded  :)  

    At about 750 feet on the western edge of The Pennines.  Clay soil.  
  • Steady EddieSteady Eddie Posts: 79
    Thank you. That is interesting reading.

  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    I think you'll be buying garlic from the Supermarket again.
    4/10, see me.
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