Garlic Harvest Time!

I know, I already did one today.  So sue me.

I thought of something I could do in my semi-debilitated state (with the help of modern pharmaceuticals).

It’s time to harvest the garlic again!  Yay!

Lined up like hot babes on a California postcard.

You can make your own postcard from that if you want.

I know what you’re saying now… but Ri, tell us more about growing and harvesting garlic!

OK, here’s what ya do…

1. Plant your garlic last fall.  Go ahead; I’ll wait.
2. Just let them grow.  Don’t fertilize them.  They need to get established.
3. OK, now, spring has come, and they’ve started to grow again.  Now you want to fertilize the living daylights out of them.  I use something like blood meal to give them a head-start on nitrogen in the cold soil.  Side dress with some nice organic fertilizer (or petroleum distillate god-knows-what-all, if you’re Canadian).
4. Keep the bed well-weeded and evenly watered until you start to notice the greens starting to turn brown and peter out.  Stop watering.
5. When you get the feeling like they are on their inexorable march towards retreating into their bulbs (as indicated by about 1/3-1/2 of the leaves showing significant yellowing or browning), it’s go time.
6. Using your implement of choice– I use a hand trowel– carefully dig down under the roots and push them up while pulling gently on the greens.
7. “Dry down” the garlic in a relatively cool place out of direct sunlight.  There should be plenty of air flow to avoid them rotting or molding– which is generally unlikely.  Give them a week or two to get good and dry.  Don’t trim anything off as of yet.  Just put them aside and let them cure.
8. Store the bulbs in a cool (55F or so), dark, relatively dry (50% humidity) place.  I keep mine in an open cloth bag and usually don’t lose more than a couple before the next season.  Don’t store them too cold, or they’re likely to start growing again.  Too warm and they’ll dry out or rot.

Eat lots and lots of garlic, and you will live forever.  The vampires and mosquitoes will not bother you.  Your blood will be clean– whatever that means.  You can put -ino -ini on the end of your names (e.g., Rianino Schmidtini).

You’re welcome.