When is Garlic ready to take out?

[mbronco27_03]

Havent been on this site for a couple of months, so probably missed some good posts, will have to go back and read!!!

I planted out in the ground about 20 Garlic cloves in end of November, they didnt do anything for ages, but now they have green shoots which are about 8-10inches high, when are they ready to get out the ground, or do I still have to wait a few more months?

[di]

Sorry...but just a few more months!!!The earliest I've ever harvested has been very late June...& they weren't really ready,just I was being impatient,had run out from the previous years & didn't want to buy any from the shop!But reallistically yours may not be ready until late July August,their leaves will turn yellow & start to drop.Will be well worth the wait!!

[piskieinboots]

as Di says - you are looking at July/Aug before lifting

[zazen999]

As the lovely little lamb [chop] says...around july/aug. All you will have at the moment is a soggy clove and a stem. I know this because I am harvesting garlic on a trial. It needs to grow outwards over the next few months.

[gojiberry]

If you had plenty you could harvest green garlic a little bit earlier but, only having 20 I would let them run their course.

Ian

[mbronco27_03]

Well I only put in 20, I spaced them to far apart, but never grew them before, so it was more of a trial, but think I will maybe put in 60 or 80 for next year, and get a good crop. Hope they are ok, as I bought a couple of whole garlics from Morrisons, split them up, and planted in Nov, as I said, more of a trial, so if triumphant, then will put in loads. Also thinking of trying Ginger, when is the best time to plant, and do I just need to plant the offcut of the root, where the eyes are, how much do I cut off, and plant?

[zazen999]

You might want to start a new thread on that, or have a look through the search facility.

[geoff]

You did right to plant in November as garlic needs a period of cold weather or it will just grow as one large bulb, and not form the typical cluster of segments (cloves).
As you've seen it can be a bit slow to start growing in the spring, but it should be OK now
It is ready to harvest when the leaves start to die back usually around July or early August
I have always grown supermarket garlic, which is considerably cheaper than the stuff from seed merchants

[cwipnip]

You did right to plant in November as garlic needs a period of cold weather or it will just grow as one large bulb, and not form the typical cluster of segments (cloves).

thats only if you plant the autumn variety in spring, you can get spring planting garlic

[Wren]

Its time to get feeding them now to get the bulk on them . A high phosphate type feed will give them a good kick start plus good ol fish , blood an bone . I planted mine at the end of October ( garlic Marco ) and now the stems are as thick as my thumb.
I learnt from last years mistakes, an now know that a good feed in spring is vital for giving them the new reserves from winters depletion of energy.

Wren

[janeyo]

I pulled some of mine 'wet' last year but not til may-ish at least.

[womble]

You did right to plant in November as garlic needs a period of cold weather or it will just grow as one large bulb, and not form the typical cluster of segments (cloves).

Tbh when I am making a big chilli or something like that, I would welcome a medium sized bulb that didn't have any segments.
I might try sowing about 10 cloves late next year to see if I can get some, what date would people recommend to plant them, early enough to get medium sized, but late enough to stay one big clove?

[Demeter]

I bet whole bulbs are wonderful roasted too