Harvesting Garlic

by Joy Duncan
(Presque Isle, ME)

Question: Last fall I planted about 20 garlic bulbs. I think things are going well with the garlic. The leafy parts are about 2 to 3 feet high and each plant has a shoot that comes out of the middle that are probably 5 feet tall...each of those has a bulb like thing on the end. Is that going to be what I harvest eventually or do I actually dig up the bulb that I planted? If so, when?

Reply: Great question Joy!

You are probably growing the hard neck variety that do well in your area.

This type of garlic produces a central stalk with a garlic called a scape, flower, or top set. It will form a bulge where bulbis will form.

This is not what you are going to harvest. You want to harvest the "bulb" that is in the ground.

In order to have a larger bulb at harvest time, snip off the scape (just below the bulb) after it has formed one or two loops so that all the energy will go into forming a large bulb in the ground.

Side note on scapes: These tops are a culinary delight! Simply stem them and serve with melted butter or add to a stir fry for a yummy garlic flavor.

Alternatively, you can keep these scapes on until you harvest. Snip them off right before you harvest the garlic bulbs to keep them out of the dirt. Dry them separately from the bulbs and use them to propagate more garlic bulbs.

Below is a web site that you might find helpful.

Learn more about propagating from scapes here: http://www.garlicfarm.ca/garlic-bulbils.html/

Learn more about harvesting garlic here:
http://www.garlicfarm.ca/growing-garlic.html/

Hope that helps!

Keep us posted on how it goes!

Julia