Garlic - Growing Stages To Watch ForUpdated 4 months ago
Garlic (Allium sativum) goes through several distinct stages during its growth cycle, each critical for successful cultivation and harvest. Understanding these stages helps ensure that you harvest your garlic at the optimal time for the best flavor and storage quality.
1. Germination Stage
- Cloves as Seeds: Garlic cloves are individual segments of a bulb, each acting as a seed. Unlike many plants, garlic is not typically grown from true seeds but rather from cloves.
- Planting Time: Cloves can be planted either in fall or spring, depending on the variety and your local climate.
- Root Development: After planting, garlic cloves focus on developing a strong root system. Fall-planted garlic benefits from natural cold exposure (vernalization) to stimulate growth.
2. Spring Garlic (Green Garlic)
- Harvest Time: Spring garlic refers to garlic harvested early in its growth, usually when the plant has developed tall, lush green shoots and the bulbs underground are still immature.
- Usage: Spring garlic has a fresh garlic-onion flavor and can be used similarly to spring onions. It is best consumed fresh or stored in a cool place for a short duration.
3. Scaping Stage
- Formation: Garlic scapes are the curly flower stalks that emerge from hardneck garlic varieties. If left unharvested, scapes will eventually form flower buds.
- Importance of Removal: Removing scapes redirects energy back to bulb growth, leading to larger bulbs. Scapes are edible and can be used in various culinary applications, such as pesto or sautéing.
4. Young Bulb Stage
- Early Harvest Option: If needed, bulbs can be harvested prematurely, before they reach full maturity. Young bulbs have a milder flavor and can be used fresh.
- Storage: Like spring garlic, young bulbs do not store well and should be consumed soon after harvest.
5. Mature Bulb Stage
- Harvest Time: The ultimate goal of garlic cultivation is the mature bulb stage. Harvest when the lower leaves of the plant have started to yellow and the bulbs are plump and well-formed.
- Curing: After harvest, garlic bulbs should be cured in a well-ventilated, shaded area until the outer skins are dry and papery. This process can take a couple of weeks.
6. Flowering Stage
- Occurrence: Garlic plants flower when they reach maturity. The flower stalks produce tiny bulbils (small cloves) that can be used for propagation.
- Propagation: Garlic can be grown from these bulbils, though this method requires patience as it takes several years for bulbs to reach harvestable size.
7. Harvesting Stage
- Timing: Harvest garlic when a significant portion of the leaves have turned yellow. Leaving bulbs in the ground too long can lead to splitting and reduced storage quality.
- Post-Harvest Care: After harvest, remove excess soil, cure bulbs, and trim leaves before storing in a cool, dark place. Properly cured garlic bulbs can be stored for several months.
Tips for Successful Garlic Cultivation
- Soil and Location: Plant garlic in fertile, well-draining soil in a sunny location. Garlic does not tolerate competition from weeds well, so regular weeding is essential.
- Spacing: Plant cloves at least 8 inches apart to ensure bulbs have enough room to grow without competition.
- Storage: Store cured garlic bulbs in a cool, dark place with good air circulation to maintain flavor and quality.
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Written by Ann McCarron
LAST UPDATED: JUNE 22, 2023