What is the correct way to dry garlic?

[Flapjack]

I've harvested all my garlic and have about 30 bulbs. I would like to dry them well so they don't go off before we can eat them all! I apologise for so many questions but I'm a bit confused - my books are a bit vague on this!

Do I cut off the stems? How far down? What about the roots? Where is best to hang them up? Could i store them indoors? Can they be used before they are dried? (they are well past the green stage) How long should they take to dry out and what do i do with them when they are dry (store indoors?)?

Any advice appreciated! Pics of my garlic harvest can be seen here

[lainey lou]

I harvested all mine monday and have put them out in the sun as they are to dry. Not sure if this is right though as it's my first time too!

[Charles Hemingway]

drying garlic

last year I dried my garlic in the sun I then trimmed off the roots and hung it in the shed along with my onions it kept well so I have done the same this year.

[Flapjack]

Thanks - but at what point do i cut off the stems? And how long before they are fully dried?

Michelle

[jacob marley]

If you have the space tie them in bunches and hang them up with the roots down mine are drying in the greenhouse.
They are dry enough when the skins take on the consisteny of very thin transparant paper you can plait them or leave them hanging in a dry airy place NOT in the Kitchen hope this helps jacob marley

[Flapjack]

Thanks Jacob...so do I keep the entire stalk and leaves attached until I want to use them?

Sorry for the confusion!

Michelle

[gojiberry]

Dry them as they are, once they have dried then you can trim the roots and cut some of the top off. I usually string mine together and trim the top to about 3/4 inches. Good idea to put hem under some sort of cover if it looks like raining.

Ian

[jacob marley]

Thanks Jacob...so do I keep the entire stalk and leaves attached until I want to use them?

Sorry for the confusion!

Michelle

No problem Flapjack you can just that or you can plait them once they are nice and dry and rustling .
I keep mine on smalish wire netting trays hanging up in the greenhouse they keep perfect jacob marley

[Cloud]

Hang mine in the shed till dry then plait them.Still using some now from last year!

[Stacey Steve]

When you go to plait them, you may find it easier if you have a length of string, tie the first three together and then use the string in one of the plait runs.

When you get to the last bulb you are plaiting, trim the stalks to look neat, fold back about 4 inches of the last stalks and tie off with the string.

Makes it all a lot neater and avoids the whole plait falling to bits when you start to take bulbs off later to use. Plus with the loop at the top, a lot easier to hang up.

[HeyWayne]

I'm waiting for a bit of dry weather now to be able to lift them!

They had a dude growing garlic on the Hampton Court Flower show on BBC 2 last night. Some handy hints given out - must be on iPlayer.

[marigold007]

I am confused. Everything I read online says to "lift garlic in mid-August. If it's a wet Summer, check them in early August. Harvest if there are only 3 skins, leave two weeks if there are four or more. " They also give a clue when the leaves are dry, yellow or brown. AS of now, some of mine have already produced scapes. Those have a little yellowing leaf and a thick stalk. The ones that didn't produce scapes (which I suspect are in too much shade) are thin and falling over. I lifted one of the thin ones and there is a small bulb-just big enough to fit into a garlic press whole. I guess my question is: should I go ahead and harvest the ones that are falling over? And, why are you all harvesting now?

[Flapjack]

Thanks so much everyone! They are looking pretty rustly now - wil have a go at plaiting them soon!

Marigold - when did you plant them? I put mine in last November and was expecting a July harvest. Are yours spring planted? Perhaps they need a bit longer. I'm sure some more experienced garlic growers will have some advice for you!

Michelle

[marigold007]

Hi Michelle, yes I planted the cloves on Feb. 1 this year.

I had no idea that the Winter planted garlic came up a few weeks earlier than the Spring ones. I guess that's a good way to get an early crop. Did u use seed or sets?

Edit: er, does garlic even have seed? :-/

[wg.]

Scapes on porcelain garlic just prior to removal last week : http://www.growveg.info/gallery/main...serialNumber=2

I will be lifting in approx 2 to 3 weeks (autumn sown, hardneck variety Music)

More garlic pictures : garlic

The seeds are contained on top of the scapes which should be removed to improve size of bulb. Most garlic is sown from divided bulbs rather than from seed,