Harvesting Garlic - Beginner's Guide

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

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[@pamelaremme38]

A little helpful hint I discovered. When cleaning your garlic (after the curing) Leave 3-4" of stem. Don't remove any skin but use the trimmed roots to lightly brush the clove and roots of a different bulb. Then take that clean bulb and do another one and repeat always using the now clean bulb to clean the next one. Works beautifully. I am still eating my garlic from last season and almost ready to harvest this years crop.

[@pamelaremme38]

Best video out there on garlic. Thank you!

[@jimmcdowell9017]

Jeff, I’m 72 and you are a little young to have all this knowledge. But, I’ll keep watching, listening, and taking notes! You’re making my garden look much better, and I take all the credit!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's so awesome Jim. Makes me happy to hear that bro! :-)

[@tedscott1478]

Hi Jim, I'll be 72 later this year and I'm learning so much too. They're great instructive vids. Best regards from Cornwall, England. p.s. I used to live in Washington, County Durham, England, where George Washington's family came from, their old house is still, there down in the valley, by the forge.

[@tennesseenana4838]

Hehe - 72 must be the magic number. That's how old I am, and I planted my first garlic bulbs last October.

[@patsyswann8530]

We love garlic in almost everything. I failed in my try to grow it. I see why I failed in these awesome instructions! Thank you so much!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Me too Patsy, can't live without it!

[@noreen_ann1438]

This is the best video on growing and harvesting garlic. I’ve been growing garlic for many many years. And this explains it very clearly! I also keep the larger garlic clocks to replant in the fall. You reap what you plant! If you plant small cloves you get smaller heads the falling year! Which is something I didn’t know when I first started out. My cloves are sometimes too large to put in a garlic press. I also dehydrate some into garlic chips and store in jar. When I want to make garlic powder I grind the chips to a powder with a coffee bean grinder! I haven’t purchased store bought garlic powder in 10+ years.

[@sheirabarbieri9098]

The best garlic harvesting video on KZbin! Thanks!

[@sandybriggs1795]

Excellent advice - i just pulled 24 bulbs out, going to hang them shortly and can’t wait until I can enjoy them !! My first venture in gardening, I’m very happy with the result… pickled some scapes too, they are as you say, delicious !!!

[@brandywvstrong9673]

Going to have to plant a whole bunch of garlic this fall. Absolutely love these videos. 🙏🏻💙🙏🏻

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I'm right there with you Brandy! :-)

[@priscillamakinita6903]

I am definately going to try it again, this time with a lot of mulching. Thank you

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Mulching is the key Priscilla! Best of luck!

[@janett.3383]

I love your Garlic videos. They are so informative. The way you explain things are simple and clear. I am a newbie gardener, so watching your videos give me confident to get my plants going.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Janet, appreciate that! Garlic is a tricky one in terms of the lifecycle, but once you get your head around that part, they are VERY VERY easy to grow successfully. Cheers! :-)

[@kathleenmurray6540]

Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks ksthleen!! :-)

[@blasermann1994]

Could not have been a better video. 👍My garlic was OK this year but next year will be much better. I didn't remove the scapes early enough.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks! Hopefully that's the difference maker for you!

[@sweetpeanmolly]

Thank you 😊 very informative and helpful! You have a gentle style of teaching and I appreciate that!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, thanks for noticing and thanks for watching. :-)

[@tonynapoli5549]

Thanks for sharing Love garlic 👍👌

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much Tony, appreciate that! :-)

[@prodigirl1]

Great tutorial! Explained slowly and concisely

[@peterhapeta1236]

Awesome video, most informing thank-you so much. Heaps of appreciation from first time garlic grower 😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

You're welcome! First time is always exciting!

[@growagarden54]

Great video again. I enjoy your teaching techniques and editing with pictures, etc. I can only imaging how much time that takes to prepare, for us to learn & get a laugh too. I appreciate it. This year was my first growing garlic, and I believe that I harvested it too early. Question: Can I grow garlic the following season in the same bed?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks so much for that Virginia...its definitely a challenge. Some videos are 4-5 months in the making....its crazy the level of planning....the real killer is the ones that don't work out, yet you've invested 60+ hours into it! Still...rewarding nonetheless! For Garlic, yes, definitely it can be grown in the same spot year after year. I plant a late crop of peas after harvest, mulch and amend heavily, and the beds are totally ready for Garlic again in September! Great question though! :-)

[@growagarden54]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thank youi so much for your reply. I can't imagine any of your videos not working out, but I imagine that's why your videos are so great. You're probable a perfectionist :) What a great idea to plant peas (my favorite), after harvesting the garlic. I've tried Kellog's "Amend" without much luck in the past. I don't want to take too much of your time; however, maybe a video of how you amend after harvesting garlic? Thanks again :)

[@fionapereira5938]

Thank you. One tip I learn from an Italian who were farmers in their country. Leave one garlic scape on your plant. When that scape stands up straight, it’s time to harvest your garlic.

[@joseewright1383]

Thank you so much for this video. I planted garlic for the first time last fall and your video contained exactly the harvesting information I was looking for.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's awesome Josee! Best of luck with the harvest! :-)

[@rosemaryjane9455]

I am a newbie to growing garlic and found your video extremely helpful. Thanks for all the detailed information. I am in NE Scotland and my hardneck garlic has just produced scapes so it's good to know what to do next. I have a small garden and find all your videos really helpful. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge with us.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's awesome Rosemary! You're right on schedule with me....we'll likely be harvesting within a month! :-)

[@Bev437Sqn]

We harvested our garlic about 2 weeks ago. It is drying nicely. Great video. I think I waited just a bit too long before I cut the scapes I will know better next year. Thanks Jeff

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Bev.....its not a huge difference....but it can add about 10-15 in bulb size.

[@deirdretrotman2104]

Me too! Live and learn!

[@emilyfgb]

Thanks dude! Super helpful.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers emily, thanks for watching!

[@pjpaulin2822]

Thank you for sharing and making it clear to the point and easy to understand.

[@angelap7841]

Thank you! You make beginners feel welcome! Much appreciated shared knowledge.

[@peacefulgarden]

Hello Jeff and Co. Another way to preserve garlic deliciously is fermenting it. Just separate and peel the cloves, pop in a jar, add water and salt (about 1 tbsp. per 4 cups of water) put something on top of the water to keep cloves submerged and let sit in a dark corner for a few days. Then keep in the fridge and use like regular fresh garlic. It does become a bit stronger, so use a bit less in cooking. A delicious way to use any garlic which is "less pretty" and may not keep well or to save failing garlic.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Stronger Garlic?? Count me in!

[@bondyng5048]

Can i do it with garlic already has green shooting out?

[@v.j.l.4073]

Such a great tutorial. My first year growing garlic, silver rose, and I didn't want to blow it! LOL. Thank you.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Best of luck with the harvest...its coming up soon!

[@deegeddes3528]

What can be grown in an onion or garlic bed for the following growing seanson?

[@Su_Silver]

Thank you!! Very timely information and extremely well presented! I appreciated the recap

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks for watching! :-)

[@matty332010]

Thanks again Jeff. I may have to grow some Garlic sometime.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If you have the space/time to dedicate, it gives you crazy returns for very little effort...but it is a long crop, no question!

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

I love garlic! I think the main issue is it’s newer gardener and Baluch is that they pull them so early. They are a long season crop!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Totally agree... Plus it's a weird concept to plant something right before winter for many people

[@ThatBritishHomestead]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms completely

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@ThatBritishHomestead and it gets doubley as confusing when there's two different types and the warm weather growers don't even need a dormancy period for the softneck varieties! Lol

[@tedscott1478]

Hi I'm fairly new to gardening and very new to vegetable and fruit gardening but your vids are a great source of information to me I'm learning more by the day😊👍 Thanks keep up the good work.

[@kellyrogers5004]

Thanks for an excellent video and garlic tutorial

[@SandraE.-xk2qe]

10:30 Lots of great information, thank you.

[@GrumpyUke]

Great video! Really appreciate the work you put into them

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Chad, glad you like! :-)

[@chachichachi5526]

Thank you !!! For all the information ❤❤❤

[@woodsie5796]

Our garlic is ready so this was right on time! I left a few scapes, do I plant them when they are dry? Confused about the scapes because I read you should leave a few for the next year ... help on this please?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I just eat the scapes. You can try planting it and hope that the seed is viable....but Garlic is best and easiest grown from cloves. Much more reliable! :-)

[@OakKnobFarm]

I need to do garlic this year, First timer. I've had good success with onions, so time to branch out

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Let's do it buddy.....6 weeks before your first fall frost.....make a video of it!

[@katewest1452]

Hi. Following your garlic tutorials very closely. You said for harvesting to hang upside down in a cool dry place. So bulbs up? Thanks for clarifying! Love your gardening information. Thanks!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha I guess that I hang them right side up when you think about it Kate....good catch! 🙂

[@erinobrien8408]

I feel inspired and adventurous in my garden after your great instructional videos!! Thank you so much - I took your advice on cilantro and it's doing well!! 🎉🌿 Off topic question: have you any advice on making a DIY dehydrator/ dryer? I'd love to build one large enough for my vegs/herbs/flowers. Thank you again!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on Erin!! Love Cilantro! For DIY dehydrators, the ones I've seen are a heat lamp, a screen, and a small fan. I haven't built one myself though.

[@erinobrien8408]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thanks again!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@erinobrien8408 :-)

[@casualobserver3145]

Thanks for the concise, to the point info. I’m in Zone 8b going through my second year of growing several varieties of garlic. It is definitely worth the effort! The only problem I’ll have this year is that my Basil won’t be ready before the bulbs have cured.....DRATS!

[@janicealderson4329]

My first attempt this year - they have collapsed!! Some of them have developed scapes and i thought they had gone to seed - but i ate the scapes and left the rest alone (good) I am now scared to dig them out as i don't know what to expect!! Thank you i will follow all instructions for the best garlic ever next year!

[@winniesandhu5903]

Can you replant a test bulb after checking to see if it's ready?

[@LesleeBarbosa]

This is my first year growing garlic and it's your videos that have really helped me with questions. I am starting the garlic harvest in the next few days. It's been a very wet summer here in Massachusetts and the humidity is wildly high. Can I dry my garlic in our basement which is cooler and darker with a fan circulating the air? We also have two air purifiers going at all times. The garage is too hot and the humidity is very high. Thanks for any suggestions?

[@DowieFarm]

Great video

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@DowieFarm thanks Dowie!

[@SuzannePequignot]

Thank you 🧄

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers! :-)

[@HaruTanuOfficial]

Amazing Share🤩🤩🤩 Stay Blessed & Connected🤝🏻

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks!

[@monthapril6441]

Thank you 😊 🧄🧄🧄🧄

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

:-)

[@Zizzyyzz]

Great tips. (And I don't mean the tips of the scapes). 😁

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Haha thanks Nah! :-)

[@thephoenix-risingagain5090]

Scapes make an amazing pesto!

[@tinakoenen38]

Enjoyed the video and appreciate all the work you put into them. I am planting garlic in the hopes of keeping moles out of my yard. What happens if I don't harvest the garlic? Will they flower and come back year after year like a tulip?

[@cindiwalsh5598]

Thank you for this video

[@lovealwaysjasmine]

Can I cure the bulbs after harvest indoors? Like my kitchen or laundry room

[@redneckbutcher4183]

Pulled some garlic a little early Going to replant most in fall Small bulbs do I plant entire bulb or break in to cloves which I would normally do with toatally mature garlic

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Right on, congrats on the harvest though! For replanting, no matter the size, ALWAYS individual cloves, never the whole bulb. :-)

[@MrBadger236]

The garlic you harvest and want to replant, do you break the bulbs up and plant each one again or do you just replant the entire bulb? I want to try and get the largest garlic cloves I can.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

100%you have to plant the individual cloves. Do NOT plant the entire bulb in one spot, that'll be a disaster.

[@kristinasantiago4471]

I put a whole sprouting bulb in water and when it rooted good i put the whole thing in a pot. I didnt know to seperate them...will they make it? Can i put them in a bigger pot to give them more room? Or can i seperate them now they are only about a month old about 12 inches long i see one curly thingy flowering lol is it too late to seperate them?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

They'll live, but getting decent garlic bulbs without space in between is nearly impossible. You'll get good greens to eat though!!

[@DarrenPierson]

what is the difference between hanging them to dry bulb at bottom or top? I have mostly seen bulb at top, but you did bottom. Is there a reason for that?

[@sircorkysriley4904]

good job again!! My garlic is ready (first time grower) we are in rain downpours now will it be okay for even a week or more? The ground is soaked. The university of main (I think) is doing a study and the first year they found if you leave the scapes on there was a 14-40% reduction in bulb size.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's a tough one...I hate it when the window to harvest is right when it magically starts raining! Ugghhhh. I think there's less risk in letting the Garlic continue to grow in the ground than there is harvesting it soaking wet. Let me know how it goes! :-)

[@sircorkysriley4904]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms good thanks i will let you know hopefully not too long.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@sircorkysriley4904 Fingers crossed!

[@VintageVibesHomestead]

I’M IN ONTARIO AND HAVE THE HARDEST TIME GETTING GARLIC TO GROW! I PLANT IT USUALLY IN EARLY FALL AND I’VE ALSO TRIED PLANTING IN SPRING TOO, BUT NOTHING 🤷‍♀️ WHEN SHOULD I BE PLANTING IT?I DON’T OVER WATER BUT I DO MAKE SURE IT’S MOIST SO AS NOT TO DRY OUT. I ADORE GARLIC AND I REALLY WANT TO MASTER THIS!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hi there, always fall. 8 weeks before your first fall frost. You want it time to set it roots and then go dormant, but not so much time that it sends up green shoots that are going to perish in the cold. Plant it 1-2 inches deep, with a thick layer of mulch. You should NOT need to water it over winter. When it sprouts in the spring, treat it like any other plant. Harvest right around now.

[@VintageVibesHomestead]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms AWESOME 👏 THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH! I REALLY APPRECIATE THE THOROUGH EXPLANATION 😀 I LOVE WATCHING YOUR CHANNEL AND I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT I HAVE HAD GREAT SUCCESS THIS YEAR IN MY SECOND YEAR OF GROWING. AFTER WATCHING MANY OF YOUR VIDEOS OVER THIS PAST YEAR, I INVESTED IN GROW LIGHTS, HEATING MATS, AND AND AROUND 30 FABRIC POTS! I BUILT SEVERAL CEDAR RAISED BEDS WITH THE WOOD I HAD LAYING AROUND, AND EVEN MADE MYSELF SOME MINI GREENHOUSES TO COVER MY RAISED BEDS! THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK YOU PUT INTO MAKING YOUR VIDEOS, TO HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE NEWBIES TO GARDENING, SUCH AS MYSELF!

[@VintageVibesHomestead]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms ALSO, I AM NOT SHOUTING 😂 I AM BLIND IN ONE EYE SO TYPING IN CAPS MAKES READING AND POSTING EASIER FOR ME TO SEE! DON’T BE OFFENDED 👍

[@sircorkysriley4904]

hey I am in Ontario near Sarnia . My first year and I do have good bulbs. what part are you in??

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@VintageVibesHomestead NO WORRIES!! :-)

[@yahushaismyshepherd1179]

Confused. You said hang them upside down. But am I getting the stage wrong. You show hanging them in bundles but they do not look upside down. So upside down is not stalks down bulbs up?

[@carolann1906]

What about soft neck? I planted soft neck in the spring in April and late May. The ones i planted in April, well the stalks have fallen over. Does this mean its time to harvest?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yup, in warmer climates softneck Garlics can be planted and harvested in the same year. The clue to harvest will again be the leaves, but even more severe with softneck.

[@carolann1906]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms i am in Michigan...so should i wait until all leaves brown?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@carolann1906 I would wait until at least 75-85% are brown and dry. You can also dig up a test bulb to see, but remember that softnecks are inherently smaller. Best of luck!

[@carolann1906]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms will do, thank you 🤗

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@carolann1906 :-)

[@jackiewaddell857]

Is Elephant garlic grown the same way?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yes, even though it's not a true Garlic, it can be grown the same way.

[@christinal5705]

Hi, I didn't know about feeding Garlic, so my cloves haven't formed into bulbs :-( hopefully I do better next year! At what point do you begin to begin to feed Garlic?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hi Christina, I tend to rely on very very rich compost and possibly other amendments at the time of planting, coupled with heavy mulching. If I feel the plants need a boost, it'll be about a month after they've sprouted. So if they are planted in October here, then go dormant, then sprout around March. IF I was feeding them that year, it would be around April or May. :-)

[@christinal5705]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thank you so much for the advice, its appreciated

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@christinal5705 cheers! :-)

[@MichaelRei99]

I would think you’d want to bend them higher to allow more nutrients to go into the bulbs.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Any higher an apparently the plant just keeps growing like normal. The bend doesn't create a kink like a hose and prevent nutrient flow. The bend stops the plant from growing and sending food to its leaves.

[@MichaelRei99]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms thanks for that explanation! Inquiring minds want to know!!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@MichaelRei99 Ha ha anytime man!!

[@bradmaas6875]

After the chances come out, I trim them, and after a month I pull the bulbs. The chances can also be pureed and made into a nice pesto

[@jodiemsick905]

I am going to try planting garlic for the first time. My question is, is it better to plant in-ground or can I plant in a raised garden bed?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Both work just fine. They need about a foot of soil depth and 4-6 inches apart from each plant. :-)

[@kristygood4366]

Another video said he used to remove the scapes then was told it wasn't necessary. He did a test removing from half and leaving on the other half. He got a bigger yield when he DIDN'T remove them.

[@athomewithkeith7904]

They need to be Planted 3 - 4" I've been doing this and my harvest is excellent. I do 150 - 200 plants.

[@maryannditullio2581]

Can you grow garlic in containers?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

For sure you can

[@kimyork3300]

I just pulled my garlic, and several were separated cloves. What did I do wrong?

[@rayquazablast9065]

I planted in November and now as I pull them they dont have any separate cloves, why? :(

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

No individual cloves??? Just one giant bulb?

[@rayquazablast9065]

Sadly yes. Zone7b

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@rayquazablast9065 That is so bizarre, I have never seen that before. Growing for 8 months and no cloves?

[@rayquazablast9065]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Sadly yes, I want to upload a video but people will just say it was planted in spring...

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@rayquazablast9065 yeah, that would be the common diagnosis..... So weird! I wonder if they bulbed early, and now you actually have 2nd season growth?

[@danielfiore8865]

Anyone have experience planting garlic in March or April? What month did you harvest?

[@jakesorenson6152]

you know i had to drop that sub

[@gogglespaesano8102]

So, I was shocked but its spring time and my garlic grew! Today we were out pulling weeds and discovered a colony of small ants had moved into one of the garlic beds under the straw. I pulled back the straw in that corner and left it exposed hoping they will move out. At this point, should I consider removing some of the straw? I wish KZbin would let me post a pic. Oh well, breaks over. Back to vegetable beds, which is a whole other problem.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ants won't trouble your Garlic and rarely does Garlic get an aphid outbreak, so I wouldn't worry too much about them. Removing straw won't hurt though, so if you want to get rid of them, disrupting the home is the easiest way.

[@gogglespaesano8102]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms Thank you

[@jmiogo]

Love the channel and appreciate it, but FYI the upspeaking is a bit rough.

[@sunshines9186]

💚👏

[@mikebarnard1029]

Yeah man this is great but if you planting 600k plants it’s a bit different

[@sharan4700]

I Like to Lick Garlic !