Author Topic: When to pull garlic? (Read 6179 times)

Charlotte Sometimes · « **on:** July 11, 2005, 13:50:20 »

OK guys, so how do I tell when the garlic is ready? I pulled one up for a look-see and it was still uber-tiny though it smells nice. Growing it round my roses in nice, fertile soil. Any advice?

aquilegia · « **Reply #1 on:** July 11, 2005, 13:51:54 »

When the tops start to flop over and go brown.

I dug my early stuff a few weeks back and the late stuff last week.

I'd have thought NOW!

Charlotte Sometimes · « **Reply #2 on:** July 11, 2005, 13:56:37 »

Wowsers Aqui, that was a quick reply. Thanks!

tim · « **Reply #3 on:** July 11, 2005, 14:35:12 »

And mine may be ready in 2-3 weeks?

dingerbell · « **Reply #4 on:** July 11, 2005, 14:40:43 »

Down here in deepest darkest Somerset, we do many things according to old wive's tales. On garlic the local philosophy is plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day. It worked for me ;D

Doris_Pinks · « **Reply #5 on:** July 11, 2005, 14:45:32 »

I have pulled all mine up, mainly because I couldn't bear to look at all the rust! Did it last week and have a great crop. :D

wivvles · « **Reply #6 on:** July 11, 2005, 15:43:36 »

Quote from: dingerbell on July 11, 2005, 14:40:43

Down here in deepest darkest Somerset, we do many things according to old wive's tales. On garlic the local philosophy is plant on the shortest day and harvest on the longest day. It worked for me ;D

I'll try that next year - I wasn't too far off it this year, without realising! Comes from not being a local...

Debs · « **Reply #7 on:** July 11, 2005, 17:13:43 »

I pulled my shallots at the weekend and they are

drying off nicely. How long should they be left to dry?

and how long can they be stored.

Apologies, this is my first successful shallot year!!

Debs ;D

tim · « **Reply #8 on:** July 11, 2005, 19:08:26 »

A couple of days in this weather?

Till next Spring - if you don't eat them!!

Charlotte Sometimes · « **Reply #9 on:** July 12, 2005, 10:02:51 »

Thanks everyone! Dingerbell - that old wive's tale or whatever sounds worth a try. I will try to remember that one!

bumble · « **Reply #10 on:** July 12, 2005, 10:05:14 »

I pulled one of my garlic this week as the leaves were turning brown, the bulb was fairly big but it was not in segments (just one big bulb) did I pull it early?

aquilegia · « **Reply #11 on:** July 12, 2005, 10:13:13 »

Bumble - no. It means the plant didn't get long enough cold weather in the winter to make it split. Loads of mine have gone like that. They are lovely slow roasted whole!

Debs · « **Reply #12 on:** July 12, 2005, 12:58:49 »

That sounds good Aqui - whole roast garlic :P

Here's hoping mine don't separate into cloves!! ;D

Debs

tim · « **Reply #13 on:** July 12, 2005, 13:37:20 »

But you still do it if they do!!

Debs · « **Reply #14 on:** July 12, 2005, 15:27:02 »

I most certainly do Tim! roasted garlic is one of my most

favourite things, especially mixed into creamy mash :P :P

The thought of having one HUGE roast garlic is sheer

heaven ;D

Mubgrub · « **Reply #15 on:** July 12, 2005, 15:34:02 »

Quote from: aquilegia on July 12, 2005, 10:13:13

It means the plant didn't get long enough cold weather in the winter to make it split.

How long is long enough? Mine were planted late sept last year, I thought that would be long enough, can you plant them much earlier than that? Perhaps the winter was a mild one, didn't feel like it though when I was planting my raspberries in the cold! ;D

tim · « **Reply #16 on:** July 12, 2005, 15:54:59 »

Ours went in 3 Feb & had at least 3 severe frosts. Early pots went in 10 Mar & were twice frosted.
Can't ask for more??

This is one of the runts of the litter, which we've been using 'wet' - just testing. Hope the others will be much bigger.

Roy Bham UK · « **Reply #17 on:** July 12, 2005, 22:07:42 »

I went up the Lottie today and noticed one of my Elephant garlic's had a seed head, is this bad news? my nieghbour lottie told me to snap it off so I did :o Should I have? ???

philcooper · « **Reply #18 on:** July 13, 2005, 09:55:42 »

Roy,

Yes

On lifting on the longest day, that would appear to shorten the time some varieties need to transfer the "contents" of the leaves to the bulbs. When nature provides such a good indicator (the tops going brown and going over), why stick to the calendar when the weather (apart form the daylength) doesn't?

Phil

Charlotte Sometimes · « **Reply #19 on:** July 13, 2005, 10:06:54 »

Tim - your photo looks almost identical to the one I pulled up earlier this week. Yes, a runt I suppose. Ah well, there are several others in that location, I hope they grow a bit bigger yet. :) I shall be watching for the leaves to go over!

News:

Author Topic: When to pull garlic? (Read 6179 times)