Yesterday was garlic harvest time. Around here garlic goes into the garden in the fall. Mine were planted in October.
The variety that I’ve been using for several years is Chesnok Red. It’s a great mellow-tasting garlic, prized by chefs, not huge but with evenly sized cloves and a very reliable track record. It’s a hardneck variety (better for storage), and has a great rich aroma and flavor. It’s unbelievably mouth-watering when it’s roasted.
I end up using most of my bulbs to feed my pickle-making fetish. But before I use any of it, I single out the biggest healthiest bulbs for next year’s seed stock.
To harvest, I’m generally able to just pull the stalks out like onions, but I know a lot of people recommend using a pitch fork, especially in tougher soil like clay.
I let it dry completely on a wire rack in the barn and then braid the stalks or send it on to the wife for roasting.
Right now our barn smells like a polish deli. And the side benefit is no vampires.
vegetablurb 
Garlic rules! Ours is close but I don’t want to dig it too soon. Maybe in a week.
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Yeah I pulled mine a little earlier than usual because the area where they were planted was still super-soggy.
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Oh my .. I was counting fingers and toes when you said October. For us it is April + hoist out December. I love garlic .. no vampires in our house. I leave it on the ground for a couple of days after harvest (weather permitting) and then throw it on the hot concrete and let it dry out. Yay! Before you know it, it is hanging in the garage. And I’m so happy ..
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Haha, it is a challenge counting months when the seasons are reversed!
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I dug up a head of garlic the other day. It’s nice sized. But, the other plants are still nice and green. I’m begging for advice. How do YOU know when to dig (pull up) your garlic?
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Haha, I’m not sure I understand the scienc Mike. I start looking in early July (after a fall planting) for yellowed leaves. I generally pull a test bulb, and if it looks good, the rest come out. I pulled mine early this year because the soil is so wet.
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OK, you guys have had a lot more rain than we have. Do you have leeks?
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That’s a good thing for you! No, I don’t have leeks. Something I should try again.
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