[janeheritage]

After the last garlic posts on planting dates, I checked my October-planted garlic today and it was ready, so I lifted it (I love that job  ). Big variety of sizes of bulb, from tiny to huge, but all fine.

Because I wanted the space for cabbages, I also lifted some January-planted bulbs. Alas! They weren't ready and were still valiantly trying to bulb up. Too late: there should be a smiley for *shame*.

The later-planted stuff is on the left in the picture. You can see how green its tops look compared with the wilted ready bulbs.

Moral: don't lift till the top growth wilts.

I also learned from this season to stop watering about a month before it will be ready to lift. Otherwise it is soft and wet when lifted.

Enjoy your garlicky meals, everyone. Plot lasagne tonight!! 

[janiejakemum]

Im confused, i thought that watering now would help them to bulb up??.

Lovely bunch of garlic there - i wonder what mine are like under the soil, cant wait.......

[janeheritage]

I think it depends on when you planted. I knew I would be lifting mine in June, so I should really have stopped watering 2 or 3 weeks ago 

[Trillium]

Yes, definitely stop watering about a month before expected harvest, which is usually in June to July. Fall planted bulbs started filling out around January and now they need to finish and 'dry off' their skins for pulling. The bulbs have grown as much as they can in the existing conditions and further watering won't do a thing.

[Sue32]

I need to be more patient as I only got my plot in April.   I just took a chance with late planting.  - expect to harvest, small bulbs probably,  in August / sept.  Is that right.  Do I still keep watering?

Certain large Garden Centre chain  (Wy*****)was quite happily selling the bulbs into May so they rather  mislead the novices like me into thinking it was an ok time to plant.

[home made pie]

sorry to jump in on thread but what would happen if I leave some in the ground and just pull them up as and when I want them, would they rot and go manky?

[mountainvicar]

they can go mankey or they can just start splitting apart into individual cloves as they get ready to be next years crop