Thursday, June 23, 2011
Is It Ready?
Dad, the farmer, told us that the garlic is usually ready to pull when the first couple of leaves start to turn brown. So we tested that theory and pulled 4 bulbs out of the raised bed today. Two of the bulbs were a nice large size, while the other 2 were a bit on the small side. I think we will wait another week or so to pull the rest.
The smell of the bulbs is just amazing! Very garlicky. I'm not quite sure what is the best approach to dry / cure the garlic. We ended up laying them on top of the rafters in the garage. What are the best ways to hang hardneck garlic to dry? Should the bulbs be suspended upside down? How do you dry your garlic?
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I just tie mine in bundles and hang in the shade, but I do let more of the leaves get dry so the skins are nice and tough on the bulbs. If it's particularly humid I bring them inside.
ReplyDeleteYour garlic is looking good! I think that mine will be ready shortly too. I dry mine the same as Erin does and then hang it in the basement for the year.
ReplyDeleteThe first time we oulled our garlic (and had no idea what we were doing) we just cut off the greens and let them sit in a bowl in the house (in shaded area) and never had a problem. They lasted through winter.
ReplyDeleteYou should be fine if they dry a little more before harvesting. I usually dig under them so I don't pull off any of the stalks and I just lay mine on the patio so they don't get wet and have air circulation to dry. Yours sure look healthy!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think it was too hot here for mine. Will have to dig up a couple and see if they made bulbs.
ReplyDeleteI guess we're getting closer to harvesting them too. I'm following your garlic progress and looks like we're just a couple weeks behind you. Leaves on mine are turning yellow too!
ReplyDeleteI don't pull mine up until August, but after doing some reading, realized I am probably waiting too long. Larry made a little 3 shelf screened deal that we put the garlic on, and put it in the covered area of the deck for a week or two. I then put all but a few in the basement. They keep better there than in the kitchen.
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