[bigben]

I planted some garlic last year about Nov and it appears really big and healthy. I decided to try one the other day as green garlic - it tasted great roasted, but I was disappointed with the size of the bulb given how chunky the stem was. I realise I am early lifting, when should they be lifted? Is it like onions when they flop -July/ Aug? Should I expect the bulbs to swell a lot in the last couple of months or do I need to expect just little bulbs?

[fatbelly]

I have sown autumn Garlic before and I lifted it around late July early August time.
All my bulbs did swell to a good size and I had a good crop

[paintedlady]

Garlic mature quite late so you are probably looking at August/September.  If your garlic plants produce a flower head, it's worth removing it so that all the energy goes into the bulb  Autumn plantings generally produce good sized bulbs - spring plantings tend to be smaller or a single bulb that doesn't split though is not always the norm.

[Salmo]

Your garlic will swell a lot in the next month. When the leaves start to yellow it is time ti lift. If you leave it to die off completely the bulbs may split their skins and if it is wet they may rot.

I would expect garlic to be ready to lift mid-July.

[mumofstig]

I would expect garlic to be ready to lift mid-July.

I think though that they may be a little later this year due to the late spring 

[bigben]

Thanks for the replies guys

[AnnieB]

Mine get pulled around July-August.
Usually start to think about it when about 1/3 of the leaves have gone yellow and wilted.

Not sure if they can be in too long, seem to have read that they can and then lose size and/or flavor.