How to Know When Garlic Is Ready to Harvest—Plus the Best Way to Do It

Whether you’re flavoring mashed potatoes or flavoring your favorite tomato sauce, garlic is the vegetable of choice. It comes in two types, hardneck and softneck, which can be planted in the fall or spring—indoors or outdoors. Regardless of what variety of garlic you're growing, we've asked experts to share their best tips and tricks for harvesting garlic so you'll have plenty available to use in the kitchen. 

When to Harvest Garlic

Garlic is generally ready to harvest around late June through mid-July. Depending on the type you’ve planted, there are several signs to look for when determining whether your bulbs are ready to leave the ground.

Softneck Garlic

According to Sarah Warner, greenhouse manager at the Case Western Reserve University Farm, the green stalks of the softneck variety will fall over when garlic bulbs are ready to harvest. 

Hardneck Garlic

The hardneck variety, on the other hand, has several tells. Charmaine Peters, farm director at Arden, says you should notice the leaves turning yellow when the plant is close to maturity. After a few weeks, the lower leaves will turn brown and dry, while the upper leaves stay green. "This is a clear sign that the garlic bulb is fully grown and ready for harvest," she says.

It's important not to remove the browning leaves on your garlic plants as they’re growing. "It looks a little messy, but these leaves are sending energy back down into the bulb," says Matthew Geldin, head farmer for Farmscape.

Another sign that your hardneck variety is ready for harvest is by paying attention to the garlic scapes, which are the long, curly shoots. When these scapes start to straighten, it's a sign that the plant is maturing. Geldin recommends removing the flower bud before it opens. "This also keeps the plant's energy directed towards forming a bigger garlic bulb," he says. 

If you’re still unsure whether a bulb is ready to come up, gently move the soil around the bulb and check to see if it is fully formed.

How to Harvest Garlic

Once you've noticed the usual signs that your garlic is ready for harvest, Peters says to stop watering at least one week before harvest day. "It makes harvesting easier when the soil is dry and loose," she says. "Plus, storing the garlic bulbs is simpler when they're dry. Remember not to harvest on a rainy or wet day." Follow these steps to harvest your garlic when it’s time. 

Tools Needed 

• Trowel, spade, or garden fork
• A container to hold your harvested garlic

Instructions

• Clean your harvesting tool with soap and water. 
• Using your tool, gently loosen the soil around the bulb. Do not pull it directly, as this could damage the bulb and separate it from the stalk. 
• Warner suggests simultaneously using one hand lifting the bulb from the bottom while the other gently pulls the garlic out by the base of the stalk. This method prevents the stalk from snapping off and offers support both above and below the soil.

How to Cure and Store Your Harvested Garlic

When properly stored, garlic can last five to six months. The key is to properly dry the garlic, so avoid washing it after its harvest. "The curing process is very important as this maximizes the shelf life of your garlic," says Warner. 

• Tie the stalks into bundles of five to 10, then hang them in a covered, dry place for two to four weeks. "This curing or drying process is important because it helps the garlic bulbs develop a protective papery covering needed for long-term storage," Peters says.
• After the roots and bulbs have dried completely, use scissors to trim the stems to 2 to 3 inches, and cut the roots, says Peters. 
• Clean off any dirt, then store your garlic in a cool, dry, dark place. "It's best to keep bulbs away from light to prevent sprouting," Peters says. "If it gets too warm, the garlic may shrivel and dry out."
• If you prefer to store ready-to-use garlic, Peters recommends peeling the cloves and freezing them. "Just make sure to store them in an airtight container or sealed bag to prevent freezer burn and maintain freshness."
• Warner prefers to dehydrate her garlic by slicing them into thin pieces and baking them at a low temperature until all of the moisture is gone. “Then I grind the dried pieces of garlic and store in an airtight container,” she says. “This helps to preserve my garlic for up to a year.” 

Growing Tips for Next Season

• For less digging, Peters recommends covering your garlic with a couple of feet of straw instead of soil. "The straw will protect the cloves from the winter cold, and make it easy to pull the garlic up at harvest without damaging it," she says.