When is Garlic ready for harvesting?

[LouLou74]

I am growing Garlic for the first time this year and my crop has just started to fall over. About half the bed has fallen over so far.
Does this mean it is ready or is something wrong?
Thanks
Louise

[Two_Sheds]

same as with onions: the leaves will go yellowish and collapse.

Half my onions are ready; I am taking them out and leaving them on the surface to dry off for a few days (if it stops raining that is)

[rustylady]

If it's fallen over, then it should be ready for harvesting. If there is something wrong, then you won't know until you have harvested, and if it has already fallen over then you can't do anything to remedy the situation. Lets hope it's ready and you have a bumper crop - mine was rubbish this year. BTW, if you add your location to your profile it helps with queries as it then shows up on your posts. No need to be specific, county or town will do.

[southern softie]

This is my 2nd year of garlic growing both hard and softneck types and I would say that it is better to havest early than late. This year I harvested when the bottom 3-4 leaves had shriveled and they were all fine, although I did wonder if I had missed some swelling time. Last year I left them until after they had collapsed and half of them had lost their paper wrapping. This could have been down to the horrendously wet weather but this year I took no chances.

[LouLou74]

Thanks, will go dig them up now!
Lou

[southern softie]

How were the garlic?
Forgot to say that I have been advised not to dry them in direct sunlight when really hot out. Although that doesn't seem to be a problem at the moment!
I put mine upside down through a rack and they tokk about 2-3 weeks to fully dry before I could plait them.
They really do honk though so be careful about where you put them as my shed has the most amazing smell.