The best time to harvest garlic is when the garlic plants start to die back, specifically when about 4-5 of the upper leaves remain green, and the rest have begun to yellow or brown. This signals the bulbs have matured and are ready for harvesting. Typically, this occurs about 3-4 weeks after harvesting the garlic scapes (if you have hardneck garlic that produces them). The bottom 2-3 leaves turning brown is often a clear indicator that garlic is ready. If you harvest too early, the bulbs will be small and underdeveloped; if you wait too long, the cloves might start to split, affecting storage quality. The timing can vary based on your climate and the planting zone. For example, in a Zone 5a climate, this usually happens in mid to late July, but it may be earlier or later depending on your location and seasonal temperatures. In summary:
- Start checking garlic a few weeks before anticipated harvest time.
- Look for 4-5 green leaves left on the plant.
- About 50% of leaves yellowed or browning.
- Bulbs fully developed with firm cloves.
- Typically mid to late summer depending on location.
This approach ensures harvesting the largest and most mature bulbs for the best flavor and storage life.
