When Should You Harvest Garlic?
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GardenSays
Harvest garlic cloves when about half the leaves have turned brown, from the bottom up — early-to-mid summer the year after fall planting.
- Ready when
- about half the leaves have turned brown, from the bottom up
- Typical window
- early-to-mid summer the year after fall planting
Ready when: about half the leaves have turned brown, from the bottom up. Loosen with a garden fork and lift gently — pulling by the tops tears the stem from the bulb.
Do this this week
- 1.Watch for the sign: about half the leaves have turned brown, from the bottom up
- 2.Pick like this: loosen with a garden fork and lift gently — pulling by the tops tears the stem from the bulb
- 3.After lifting: dry whole plants with tops attached, out of sun, 7-14 days before trimming
Calculated result · 1 verified source · Checked 2026-07-16 · How we decide
Why
On the calendar: early-to-mid summer the year after fall planting (Central-Maryland reference ~July 1; shifts with your climate). Watch the plants, not the date — the leaf signal is the trigger.
After lifting: dry whole plants with tops attached, out of sun, 7-14 days before trimming. Storage: 6-9 months in a cool (32-38°F), dry spot.
- Days-to-maturity figures are averages from trial conditions — your season, variety and weather move them, which is why the visual readiness sign is the deciding test.
When this doesn't apply
- If you planted earlier or later than the typical window, shift the estimated dates by the same amount.
How this was calculated
- 1. Typical harvest windowSee signSource guidance
early-to-mid summer the year after fall planting (Central-Maryland reference ~July 1; shifts with your climate)
Data sources
- University of Maryland Extension — Growing Garlic in a Home Garden — lift when ~half the foliage is brown; Central MD ~July 1; cure 7-14 days; stores 6-9 months (checked 2026-07-16)
What changes this answer
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