The best time to harvest garlic depends on whether you are referring to planting or harvesting.
Planting Garlic
For planting garlic, the ideal time is in the fall. This is because garlic needs a period of cold weather to develop strong roots and bulbs.
- Planting in fall allows the garlic to establish itself before the winter and produce a larger harvest in the spring.
- Planting in spring is possible, but the garlic may not have enough time to mature and produce large bulbs.
Harvesting Garlic
When it comes to harvesting garlic, the best time is when the leaves begin to turn yellow and brown. This indicates that the bulbs have matured and are ready to be harvested.
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Signs of mature garlic include:
- Yellowing leaves
- Dry scapes (if you are growing hardneck garlic)
- Firm bulbs
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Harvesting too early will result in smaller bulbs.
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Harvesting too late will lead to the bulbs splitting and becoming soft.
You can also use a garlic calendar to determine the optimal planting and harvesting times for your region.
