A Detailed Guide to Harvesting and Storing Garlic Bulbs

The harvest time for garlic bulbs should be determined by their maturity. If harvested too early, the bulb tissue will be underdeveloped, with high water content; after drying it tends to shrivel, stores poorly, and yields are low. If harvested too late, the skin turns black, the cloves separate easily, and market quality is poor. Based on the experience of garlic farmers in my area: the suitable harvest time is when most of the garlic leaves have dried up, the upper leaves have faded and their tips have dried and gradually drooped, the plant is in a soft state, and the stalk does not break easily.

After the garlic bulbs are harvested, dry them in the field, turning them frequently. When turning them, lay the leaves of the back row over the bulbs of the front row, arranging them in order, drying only the leaves and not the bulbs, and sun-dry for 2-3 days before storing. Never expose the garlic bulbs to direct sunlight, otherwise the cloves tend to shrink, the outer layer becomes sticky, the garlic flavor is reduced, and they are prone to spoilage and rotting during storage.

For garlic bulbs intended for storage and for seed, it is best to keep the leaves and stalks attached and sort them into three grades by bulb size, then braid each grade into a string of 50 bulbs, and then braid two strings together into a hanging bunch of 100 bulbs, and place them in a dry, well-ventilated place; or tie them into bundles with the bulbs facing outward and the stems and leaves facing inward, and stack them in double rows in a high, dry place, with two wooden sticks placed underneath so the garlic hangs suspended in the air. If the storage quantity is large, a garlic rack can be set up in the open air, covered on top with plastic film or reed mats, which protects against both rain and sunlight.