[Jenny J]

Hi, I am growing garlic for the first time and planted my cloves in November.  I understand they are ready to harvest when the leaves start to turn yellow and wilt down.  This has happened and with great excitement we dug one up yesterday, to find nothing on the end apart from roots!   Does anyone know where I have gone wrong?  Any information very welcome 

[arugula]

Even when you plant in November, they shouldn't be ready 'til the following summer. If your leaves are yellowing at this stage, its sounds as though they need a feed.

[Lardman]

You're about 3 months too early  

There are other reasons why the leaves might have yellowed, any chance of a picture so we can be of more help.



edit : Must type quicker to avoid looking stoopid 

[Diddy Gardener]

The instructions I received with mine (Music, planted late October) states: in late May/early June, the flowering shoot will appear... snap this off near the base... about five weeks later, when the lower leaves are dying off, the garlic should be ready to harvest - around mid July. Yellowing of the outer leaves is a good indication it's ready to harvest.

Some of my outer leaves are turning yellow, but no flower shoot has appeared yet. You should maybe hang fire for a few months?

[Diddy Gardener]

You're about 3 months too early  

There are other reasons why the leaves might have yellowed, any chance of a picture so we can be of more help.



edit : Must type quicker to avoid looking stoopid 

You and me both Lardman  Argyllie is just too quick off the draw!!!

[Jenny J]

Thanks for your quick answers!  Looks like I'm being impatient, I read in one of my books that they would be ready in May   I'll give them a feed and wait a few months

[mumofstig]

My Early Purple Wight said end of May harvest - but I'm expecting them to be later than that after this weather!  they really need some warm weather to grow - let alone harvest 

[gavinjconway]

I've always let the plant almost die off before pulling them out.. unless the weather is too wet and they start to rot!!

Here's a link to growing garlic from the top of the page tabs...
http://www.allotment-garden.org/grow-your-own/vegetables/garlic

[Aidy]

The instructions I received with mine (Music, planted late October) states: in late May/early June, the flowering shoot will appear... snap this off near the base... about five weeks later, when the lower leaves are dying off, the garlic should be ready to harvest - around mid July. Yellowing of the outer leaves is a good indication it's ready to harvest.

Some of my outer leaves are turning yellow, but no flower shoot has appeared yet. You should maybe hang fire for a few months?

You can use this shoot in stir fries, very tasty 
I have just given mine a watering with manure tea, 1 part tea to 3 water just to give a bit of a nitrogen boost but that's it now until June/ early July when they are big, juicy and very tasty.