When to harvest garlic？

When harvesting garlic, wait until the bottom three leaves of the plant have turned brown and begin to droop downward and the remaining leaves are still green and vibrant. Dig a bulb or two for observation and inspection. Because each leaf on the garlic plant corresponds to a thin, papery layer around the bulb that's growing underground; the lower leaves are the outside layer. When the bottom three leaves have turned brown and dried, then you know that the outside layers of the bulb are also dry and papery. Each leaf that browns is one fewer potential wrapper to protect the bulb. (Harvesting too soon can also diminish the bulbs’ shelf life in storage, and may limit the bulbs reaching full size.)  If you wait for all the leaves to go brown, you will sadly see the overripe bulbs whose cloves are starting to separate from one another, and the resulting "unwrapped" heads won’t store as long. 

The garlic plant includes a mature bulb, that is several inches deep, and has a strong root system. Try Not to Pull and Extract Bulbs Out of the Ground Unless Your Soil is Very Fluffy and Loose. Such rough handling could damage that thin, paper-like protective layer that surrounds the garlic head. Instead, loosen the soil around it with a garden fork, spade, or shovel, and dig the garlic bulbs up carefully, taking care not to slice through them. Once loosened, you can gently lift the bulb out. Keep the shovel or fork well away from the bulb, then shake or gently rub any loose soil or dirt by hand.

How to store garlic?

Keep your garlic in a dark, cool (32 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit) place where it will still get some air circulation. Don’t hang it in the kitchen where it will be exposed to bright light. Storing them at freezing temperature sometimes helps them survive for up to 7 months without deteriorating.





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