What are the key points to note during the garlic harvest period? Don't miss the latest tips
The garlic harvest is divided into two rounds: harvesting the garlic scapes and harvesting the bulbs. It is highly seasonal, and the harvest period is concentrated. The harvest period not only affects yield and quality, but also relates to the length of the garlic's storage life and the quality of the seed garlic, so a reasonable harvest plays an important role in improving garlic yield and quality as well as increasing storability. So what should you pay attention to during the garlic harvest period? Let's find out together.
1. Harvest at the right time
Harvesting garlic scapes too early reduces yield, and the scape remaining in the false stem will continue to grow, consuming nutrients and hindering bulb expansion; harvesting too late means the scape fibers increase, the quality is poor, and at this point the scape is difficult to pull out. To pull it out you must cut open the false stem, which affects bulb yield. The best harvest time should be flexibly determined according to the cultivation purpose and variety characteristics. Generally, scapes are harvested when they are about 7cm above the sheath opening of the last leaf and the upper part has not yet bent. The same applies to harvesting the bulbs: when the outer several layers of leaf sheaths lose water and become thin, they will fall off on their own after harvest, and at this time the inner 3-4 layers of leaf sheaths are thicker and tightly wrap the bulb, giving better bulb quality; if harvested too late, all the leaf sheaths become thin and dried out, and the bulbs are prone to splitting and clove scattering during harvest.
2. Management before scape harvesting
Stop watering 3-4 days before scape harvesting, so the scapes do not become too brittle and break easily during harvest, which would harm yield and quality. After scape harvesting, the plant enters the bulb expansion stage, but because the roots, stems and leaves are declining in function and have weak absorption capacity, it is not advisable to apply topdressing after scape harvesting, to avoid excessive vegetative growth of stems and leaves that would cause late ripening of the bulbs. As temperatures rise, watering should be done promptly after scape harvesting, preferably with small amounts of water applied frequently. Never flood-irrigate; just keep the soil moist to promote bulb expansion. Stop watering one week before bulb harvest, to avoid overly wet soil causing the garlic skin to rot.
3. Harvest timing
Scape harvesting should be done on a sunny day, when transpiration is high, the plant's internal water content is lower, and the texture is soft and elastic, making scape pulling easier and less likely to break. Bulb harvesting is likewise best done on a sunny day, so the harvested bulbs have intact outer skins and dry faster when sun-dried, reducing mold and rot during storage.
4. Post-harvest handling
After harvesting the bulbs, the roots and tendrils should be trimmed promptly. If the roots are not cut, the stem disc will not dry thoroughly after sun-drying and is prone to mold during storage. There is also a proper way to trim the roots: early-maturing varieties with short leaf sheaths are mostly stored in tied bundles, and when trimming the roots you should also trim the tips, leaving 10-15cm of leaf sheath; varieties with long leaf sheaths are mostly stored in braids, and only the roots are trimmed without trimming the tips. When trimming, point the bulbs downward; when sun-drying, turn them so they dry evenly, and pay attention to weather changes to avoid rain damage. Generally, after 3-5 days of sun-drying they are ready for storage.
The above is an introduction to the key points to note during the garlic harvest period. We hope it helps you. To learn more related knowledge, please stay tuned to us.