Softneck garlic is typically harvested from late spring to late summer, depending on your climate and growing conditions. The main harvesting time for softneck garlic usually falls around mid-July to late August. Here are some key indicators and guidelines for harvesting softneck garlic:
- Harvest when about one-third of the leaves have turned brown but the top 5-6 leaves are still green. This suggests the bulb has reached maturity but is not overripe.
- Another rule is to harvest when there are about 4-5 primarily green leaves remaining from the top.
- Softneck garlic tends to be planted in warmer climates and does not usually produce garlic scapes like hardneck varieties.
- It's important to check bulbs by gently removing some soil around the stalk to gauge bulb size before harvesting all.
- Waiting too long until all leaves are brown can cause cloves to separate and spoil more quickly.
- Softneck garlic varieties such as Silverskin and Artichoke have slightly different flavor profiles and storage times but share similar harvest timings.
In summary, for softneck garlic, watch for the plant to start dying back and harvest around mid-summer when the lower leaves yellow and the garlic starts to "go weak at the knees." This typically occurs from mid-July through August depending on your location and climate, with the key sign being a mix of brown lower leaves and still mostly green upper leaves or 4-5 green leaves remaining on the stalk.
