Garlic is an essential ingredient in cooking, and growing it yourself allows you to enjoy its fresh flavor and health benefits. Here is a complete guide to optimal garlic harvesting and storage so you can enjoy it all year round.
When is the best time to harvest garlic scapes and bulbs and to correctly store them.
Garlic planted in the fall is harvested the following summer. Picked too early, the bulbs will be spongy and will not keep for as long. Too late, the fragile skin will make the bulb susceptible to disease. So, when is the best time to harvest? The best time to know if it is ready is to carefully observe the foliage.
Garlic Scapes: A Gourmet and Strategic Harvest
Garlic scapes are the tender, curly stems that appear on hardneck varieties. They are a true spring delight, with a milder taste than cloves, reminiscent of shallots or chives. Harvesting these scapes is also strategic: it forces the plant to concentrate its energy on developing the underground bulb, ensuring a better main harvest.
When to harvest garlic scapes?
In early summer, ideally when the stalk forms two complete loops, but before the flower bud opens. An early harvest ensures optimal tenderness.
How to harvest and store?
- Cut at the base of the plant or simply pinch off the stems.
- Rinse them.
- Store in a container with a little water or in the refrigerator in a plastic bag. They'll stay fresh for about a week.
- For longer storage: Chop them and freeze them in ice cube trays with olive oil, or make a pesto that freezes very well.
Culinary uses for garlic scapes
Garlic scapes are incredibly versatile:
- Garlic scape pesto: Replace basil in your classic pesto recipe for a unique flavour.
- Sautéed: Sauté them in a pan with a little olive oil or butter, as a side dish for meats or vegetables.
- Soups and salads: Add them chopped for a fresh, delicate garlic touch.
- Marinades and dressings: Incorporate them to flavour your preparations.
Garlic Bulbs: The Key Harvest Moment
The success of good garlic storage lies in perfect harvest timing. Harvested too early, the bulbs will be spongy and won't store for long. Too late, the skin will be fragile and the bulbs more susceptible to diseases.
When to harvest bulbs?
The best time is definitely in mid-summer, on a warm, sunny day. The key is to observe the foliage: garlic bulbs are harvested when mature, generally when 1/3 to 1/2 of the lower leaves are yellowed or brown and starting to dry.
How to harvest bulbs?
- Soil preparation: Stop watering one to two weeks before harvest to help the bulbs dry and store longer.
- Gentle excavation: Carefully insert a garden fork or small spade under the plants, a good distance from the bulb to avoid damaging it. Gently lift them from the soil.
- Initial cleaning: Shake off excess soil from the plants. Do not wash them with water.
Drying, Cleaning, and Storing: The Secrets to Long-Term Preservation
For your garlic to last for months, a proper drying (or "curing") process is essential. The goal is to reduce internal moisture that could lead to mold growth.
Drying (Curing)
- Once harvested, hang the entire garlic plants (with foliage and roots) in small bundles, or spread them on wire racks.
- Place them in a well-ventilated, dark, and temperate area, away from direct sunlight and rain. A barn, open garage, or garden shed are ideal.
- Allow between 3 and 4 weeks for drying. The foliage and roots should be completely dry to the touch, and the outer wrappers of the bulbs should be thin and papery.
- Regularly check for mold and remove any affected bulbs to prevent spread.
Final cleaning and storage
- Wait until the bulbs are completely dry before cleaning them.
- Cut the stalks to about 5 to 7 cm (2 to 3 in) above the bulb.
- Cut the roots close to the bulb.
- Gently remove the first layer of outer skin if it's very dirty, but keep as much as possible to protect the bulb.
- Then, store them in a paper bag, mesh bag, or perforated cardboard box, in a dark, cool (around 10-15°C or 50-60°F), and well-ventilated place. Never in the fridge! The moisture in the refrigerator will cause them to sprout or mold.
Additional storage tips
- Braiding: If you've grown softneck garlic, you can braid the stalks after drying for aesthetic and practical storage.
- Regular checking: Periodically inspect your bulbs and remove any that show signs of deterioration (soft, moldy, sprouted) to prevent them from affecting others.
- Prioritize use: Slightly damaged cloves or bulbs should be used first.
The Health Benefits of Garlic
Beyond its culinary qualities, garlic has been recognized for millennia for its numerous medicinal properties:
- Powerful antioxidant: It contains sulfur compounds that help protect body cells from free radical damage.
- Immune system support: Regular consumption can help strengthen the body's defenses against infections.
- Cardiovascular health: It helps reduce blood pressure, cholesterol, and prevent blood clot formation.
- Anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties: Garlic is a natural antibiotic and antifungal, useful against various infections.
Growing and consuming your own garlic is therefore a simple step for your health and a renewed gourmet pleasure season after season!
