Garlic Harvest
Did you know that it is incredibly easy to grow your own garlic? In my area planting time is fall and harvest time is early summer. When the garlic foliage starts to turn brown, it’s your clue that it is time to dig. Usually I harvest garlic in June but this year I didn’t get to it until July. When digging, be careful to put your shovel in the ground a good distance from each plant so that you don’t accidently spear the garlic head with your shovel.
Garlic needs to cure before it is stored. I put mine on this compost sifter that was passed on to me by my grandfather. This lets air circulate all around the garlic which helps it to dry out nicely.
After a week, I took the garlic outside to the compost pile, trimmed off the roots and stems and brushed off the dried soil. Then I let it cure for another week.
Meanwhile Mama visited and spotted the garlic blooms that I’d cut off in my compost pile. She fished them out and took them home!
When the garlic is dried, I store it in mesh bags. It’s so handy to have my own garlic supply. I don’t think I’ve purchased garlic in many years.
Garlic should be stored in a dry place. I keep mine hanging in our basement which has a dry atmosphere due to running a dehumidifier year-round.
I’ll have to do a lot of cooking to use this supply! The great thing is this fall I will break a couple of bulbs apart to separate the cloves, plant those, and then I’ll have a supply for 2012.
Do you like garlic? I use it a lot in cooking and love it!
I’m sharing with Amanda’s Weekend Bloggy Reading Party.
Paula, I’m impressed. I usually have a garden but have never tried garlic. I think I may have to look into this for my region. Thanks!
Well, I had no idea! I love cooking with garlic and buy some about once/month. Might be fun to plant it instead!
You go girl!!!
Interesting. I have two questions: What do you begin with to plant and what is your mom going to do with those?
Can you believe that this year is the first time I have used real cloves of garlic? I bought a new garlic press just for the occasion! So could I plant any garlic cloves for the following year and do they need to come from special seed quality? Thanks for this post!
I am learning so much. I never knew how to grow my own garlic. I’ll need to remember to plant some this fall ~ can you post a reminder?? 😉 Thanks for this helpful hint and yes, I. LOVE. TO. COOK. WITH. GARLIC. It can be expensive so I look forward to saving some mula.
What a helpful article, Paula! I had no idea how the garlic process works. I’d love to try my hand at it next year. 🙂
I would have been the blooms from the compost pile too.
Yes, I love garlic.
very interesting to learn that whole process. i hardly use garlic…i use alot of garlic powder, lol.
I didn’t know you could plant the cloves, but it makes sense! I’ll have to find out when the season is here, and plant some for myself. We use garlic for almost every savory dish we cook, so it would save me a lot of money!
REALLY? So, I could just plant some garlic cloves and I could grow garlic for next year? That’s so cool! I wonder if I’d kill that too? It would be so much cheaper becuase I put garlic in EVERYTHING!
I’ve never seen garlic blossoms before. Pretty.
I had no idea you just planted the cloves….my mind is reeling.
Sounds like it’s time for you to make Ina’s Chicken w/40 cloves of garlic….yummmm.
Do you know, I have the exact same compost sifter!!! How funny is that!
I grew garlic last year and still have lots of cloves left. I love garlic and use lots of it (and onions).
I love Garlic Paula! And you know what? On my way to work there is a field that has some blooms just like the ones your own dear mother is holding in her hands. I thought it was a field of onions, but maybe it’s garlic? I’ll have to keep an eye on it and maybe take my camera out there and take a picture for you, it’s a huge, huge field!
My own mom uses tons of garlic in her chile colorado and chile beans and home made salsa and wow…now I’ve gone and made myself hungry :0)
I am going to have to try that. We love garlic and it’s good for you too. You make it look so easy. Thanks for sharing.
Had not idea that you just planted the cloves. But then I’m not much of a gardener.
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Thanks for sharing that … I’d love to grow my own garlic. I think I’ll add that to my list for next year’s garden. We eat garlic in everything!
Hi Paula! We tried garlic one time but the bulbs were really little. Not sure why. Yours look much better! Maybe we should try again in the fall.
I am sorry I missed your soap giveaway while we were in NC. I would love to try making some. Thanks for your instructions!
Donna