Garlic Harvest Time!

[IronNoggin]

Well, the latest heat wave certainly improved the outlook for our wee ones - garlic plants grown from Bulbils:

https://i.imgur.com/Q9FZk6c.jpg

Wish I had taken a picture of the main garlic bed when it was at it's height. Made it to around 5 feet this year!
Here is one when they were only about 4 feet:

https://i.imgur.com/5HyhOE6.jpg

The recent heat, lack of water (intentional) after removing most of the scapes managed to shrink the plants down by over two feet as they readied for harvest:

https://i.imgur.com/IKQoD39.jpg

You can easily see that the lower 2/3 or more of almost every plant had browned up:

https://i.imgur.com/rN6HIWR.jpg

So... Harvest Time!!

https://i.imgur.com/RVLEbtm.jpg

...................

[IronNoggin]

I was very pleased to learn that my experiment regarding growing full sized garlic from Bulbils was a roaring success!! In fact, there was but little difference in size between most of them, and those grown from original full sized stock! Means that down the road we will be chowing down on pretty much all of the Big Boyz, and utilizing the rotating Bulbil stock as broodstock!

https://i.imgur.com/W4bBu4Q.jpg

Cleaned them up, trimmed off the brown while leaving the green to contribute even more goodness to the bulbs as they finish:

https://i.imgur.com/8UuUWCc.jpg

Got a Gretzky this year - 99 harvested!
Now they hang for a week or so in a cool, shaded spot with good air circulation.
Simply had to try one. Too early I know, but already very oily and super spicy!
Going to be a great batch this year methinks!!

Gotta admit though, after having the screen of green between our lower sitting area and the yard most of the year, she now looks to be a tad barren...

https://i.imgur.com/OGf0yVm.jpg

Time for a second seasonal crop to take it's place until fall. Now debating with The Missuz just what that should be (as I will be away for a few weeks or so after the beginning of next month)...

So, how is your garden shaping up this year??

Wondering...
Nog

[Marc]

what variety of garlic is that in front of your truck behind the garlic laying down?:confused:

[IronNoggin]

what variety of garlic is that in front of your truck behind the garlic laying down?:confused:

Legal Devil's Lettuce. :lol:
Don't know the strain, and don't really care.
Buddy dropped off those two on spec I would grow them.
I will of course, then call him once they either get too big to handle, or bud out.
Not so much my cup of tea, but he knows between me & my Lady we can green thumb damn near anything! :wink:

Cheers,
Nog

[Jagermeister]

when did you plant those Matt?

[IronNoggin]

when did you plant those Matt?

Last October.
The few you see left are either for Bulbil production (4) or were volunteers from this spring. Seed stock all.
They always do their best when fall planted.
Average is 3.5" diameter this year, and I am well pleased with that!

Cheers,
Nog

[Ride Red]

Very nice Nog !!! I’ll be pulling my garlic soon too, but have been eating potatoes for a while now, zucchini, cuc’s are com’n, tomatoes, carrots, corn, jalapeños, green peppers too. Raspberries were/are nuts this year, tame blackberries and 4 kinds of apples. Everything will be a bumper this year if it stays hot. I don’t have any of those dark green garlic, but they look healthy:)

[Deadshot]

I'm giving the garlic a go this fall.
Did you seaweed the bed last fall?
Tried my hand at gardening this year more aimed at the canning end of things.
Bumper crop of beets, beans, tomatoes and cukes.
Jalapenos were started a little late and are just flowering now.
Love me some Jalapeno poppers!

[cdub]

My wife makes pesto with the scapes. Yum

[Jagermeister]

I grow three varieties of garlic. White, Russian Red and a soft neck that was brought to Canada when my wife's uncle immigrated from the Ukraine in 1937.
The soft neck runs a short growing season, three to four months so it is more suitable to spring planting. It is very strong. It wards off mosquitoes, black flies, horse flies, wasps and Englishmen.
Last year I had a planting of the white and Russian in the neighborhood of 750 to 800 plants. I discarded most except a few of the ones that didn't seem to have been as much by a nematode infestation. The soft neck did not catch the nematode outbreak.
I did plant a few of last years crop but I gave them a vinegar soaking prior to planting. I want to see if there is still a pest presence.
The soft neck are planted in another part of the garden.
Funny, the wife and I were just talking yesterday about building boxes specifically for garlic. Bringing in fresh soil. What I need to obtain is some dryer felt for the bottom.

[IronNoggin]

... Did you seaweed the bed last fall?

You can.
What we do is run a small second crop (usually lettuce and such).
When that dies back, we hit up the soil with four different types of manure.
Sheep & Chicken crap directly from a Buddy's farm
Cow crap from another fellow,
And fish compost from the local plant here.
That is watered down, covered, and allowed to fallow until October.

When planting we dump a full tablespoon of bone meal under each plant, separated from the seed by a little soil.
Run them around 4" deep.

Has always produced rather well for us.

Jagermeister: Man, that is a LOT of garlic you're growing!! :shock:

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

First Garlic "Flower" is ready for harvest:

https://i.imgur.com/CWzJsHJ.jpg

The other three ain't far behind...

Cheers

[IronNoggin]

Harvested much of the Bulbil seed stock yesterday. You can see that by far most are single round bulbs. Only a few will be segmented into cloves after their first year.

https://i.imgur.com/p2WsKRA.jpg

The growing boxes have a few over-achievers left to finish. These will all be multiple cloved.

https://i.imgur.com/YfWmVsI.jpg

All will be replanted in a few weeks to establish next's years eating stock. And yes, the single cloved ones will produce full sized, multiple cloved stock as we harvested a few months back now.

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

Final Update for 2020...

For the past couple of weeks, the garlic box has been fermenting a fine mix of chicken, steer and sheep manure mixed with a new load of black earth. That was repeatedly mixed well and readied for today's planting:

https://i.imgur.com/D0MsR0O.jpg

I use an old electrical power-line insulator and the five inch wooden base to punch the holes to correct depth, then toss a little better than a tablespoon of Bone Meal into each:

https://i.imgur.com/iwLNwq1.jpg

Then, using the same tool push a little soil in on top of the Bone Meal and tamp if down:

https://i.imgur.com/yVXLIr5.jpg

Toss the seed stock in (pretty much all from last year's bulbil production = round singles) and cover.

https://i.imgur.com/Z3jsxbN.jpg

Once that is accomplished, heavily water the bed to "set" the bulbs into place.

[IronNoggin]

Although we don't get the kind of cold folks see elsewhere, we do get a hell of a pile of rain over the winter. Snow usually, and cold to some degree. With that in mind I always cold frame this patch for the winter:

https://i.imgur.com/DbgeFOc.jpg

One side is set up to be easily opened for sunny days, and the soon to be added 4 inch covering of fallen leaves (simply waiting for those to land now - soon):

https://i.imgur.com/QH2QXzP.jpg

And with that, we'll be seeing you in the spring again...

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

Winter Dressage:

https://i.imgur.com/WLJqZhQ.jpg

[lovemywinchester]

Looks great Nog. How do you preserve the garlic for months? I find my store bought garlic will dry out before I get to finish it usually, and that is only a 3 or 4 pack usually. I guess I need to eat more garlic....

[albravo2]

Very inspirational Matt, my mouth is watering.

I'm glad you take photos and explain what you are doing.

[IronNoggin]

Looks great Nog. How do you preserve the garlic for months? I find my store bought garlic will dry out before I get to finish it usually, and that is only a 3 or 4 pack usually. I guess I need to eat more garlic....

We have a cold room under the stairs to the basement. Concrete floors and insulated walls. It hangs in there with no adverse effects for months. Like from August to at least April / May. And that is what allows me to harvest so much each year.

Also houses our canned goods. Handy little room that it is.

Cheers & Thanks for the kind words Folks!
Nog

[jimzuk]

Thanks for sharing your methods. I have never covered my garlic and it has always made it through the winter. I do have a few leaves on the ground so I will use them to cover the bed and see if it helps

[IronNoggin]

Thanks for sharing your methods. I have never covered my garlic and it has always made it through the winter. I do have a few leaves on the ground so I will use them to cover the bed and see if it helps

The leaves serve a couple of purposes.
First of course they provide insulation, a blanket of sorts. Which in the case of raised beds with floors off the ground is pretty much a requirement.
Second, as the leaves disintegrate, they provide fiber and some nutrients to the growing medium.

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

A first for me!!

https://i.imgur.com/9OyzNPY.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/TYEz5Gg.jpg

Yep, those are garlic scapes forming. On the first of June?? WTH??

They've topped four feet already, and have a nice average diameter:

https://i.imgur.com/xpiyxRJ.jpg

But I've never even heard of scapes being developed this early, ever.
Methinks that signals we are in for a somewhat early harvest.
Hope the weather stays warm...

Cheers,
Nog

[cdub]

My wife makes garlic scape pesto. It’s coming soon

[alpinedust]

Wow! Looking good!
How early do you pick the scapes? I have heard that the earlier the scape picking the bigger then bulb, but that leaving the scape for longer helps for longer storage. Any anecdotes to back any of this up?

Any chance you could share that garlic scape recipe cdub ;-)

[IronNoggin]

Wow! Looking good!
How early do you pick the scapes? I have heard that the earlier the scape picking the bigger then bulb, but that leaving the scape for longer helps for longer storage. Any anecdotes to back any of this up?

We always wait until just prior to the scapes stranding up - as in while they still resemble a shepherds hook.
All our bulbs are generally good sizes, and they will last in the cold room up to 10 months when cured.

Cheers,
Nog

[alpinedust]

We always wait until just prior to the scapes stranding up - as in while they still resemble a shepherds hook.
All our bulbs are generally good sizes, and they will last in the cold room up to 10 months when cured.

Cheers,
Nog
Cool thanks!

[cdub]

Top secret
1/4 cup pine nuts, 3/4 cup chopped scapes, juice and zest 1/2 lemon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup Parmesan. All in a food processor



Wow! Looking good!
How early do you pick the scapes? I have heard that the earlier the scape picking the bigger then bulb, but that leaving the scape for longer helps for longer storage. Any anecdotes to back any of this up?

Any chance you could share that garlic scape recipe cdub ;-)

[alpinedust]

Top secret
1/4 cup pine nuts, 3/4 cup chopped scapes, juice and zest 1/2 lemon, 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 cup olive oil, 1/4 cup Parmesan. All in a food processor

Thanks! Sounds delicious!

[Harvest the Land]

No scapes yet in North Delta Nog. Here's our Red Russian bed:

https://i.imgur.com/mSHaoqV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/jMpEVKx.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/7bzin4C.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/ZuFbdjO.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/3JHqQHm.jpg

Looks like you might be in for an early harvest

[IronNoggin]

No scapes yet in North Delta Nog. Here's our Red Russian bed:


Those are looking right healthy! Good stuff!

Likely harvest our first scapes this weekend as there are now sufficient numbers well enough along for a good feed. And yeah, I do believe we're looking at a rather early harvest.

Buddy in town, and another rancher south of us both have scapes coming along fast now.
Seems to be something of a trend this year...

Cdub: Missed the fine looking recipe when you posted. May well have to give that a whirl.
Thanks!!

Cheers,
Nog

[Bugle M In]

No scapes on mine yet.
Some, depending on type have the stalks thickening up well.
Think i am still a couple of months off before hanging them.

[Moose63]

No scapes neither. Mine typically get harvested by late July. Going to pay attention to consuming based on storage life of each variety. I've got Russian Reds (shortest storage) to Italian Softnecks (longest), Italian Purple (in between).

https://i.postimg.cc/FsNMqDZK/IMG-1948-1.jpg

[fearnodeer]

Well scapes in Maple Ridge, first time growing it, that for all the advise Nog.

[Bugle M In]

Definitely going to read thru the thread more.
Pretty sure i planted by November latest.

[IronNoggin]

Less than a week later:

https://i.imgur.com/u0y3qjR.jpg

And damn near all of them are going now!

https://i.imgur.com/k64sKDz.jpg

The strawberries also decided to give them a run for being first harvest:

https://i.imgur.com/5n3pNva.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/SWdWZVL.jpg

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

Fourth Feed & still ROCKIN'!

https://i.imgur.com/hxfy6eH.jpg

[Bugle M In]

Noggin,

have you pulled out your garlic yet?
if not, when?

[cdub]

We pull our garlic in Aug.

[IronNoggin]

have you pulled out your garlic yet? ... if not, when?

Not yet.
Still growing my few scapes remaining for seed (bulbil) stock, while the rest of the scapes have been harvested and munched on.

Watering is now basically shut down except for a dribble in this heat for the ones with those scapes remaining.
That helps form a solid bulb and tends to increase the oiliness / flavor.
Also helps them cure faster and store much better.

Way to tell when it is ready to harvest is the lower 3/4 of the plant's leaves with wither and turn brown / yellow.
Never pull them before that or you are losing potential production.
The plants will also lose a fair amount of height as they get closer to harvest time.

Here's a shot from last year just before they were yanked:

https://i.imgur.com/rN6HIWR.jpg

At one time these were well over four feet high.
Now less than three.
And easy to see the lower 3/4 has browned up.

Be a few weeks yet from what I am seeing...

Cheers,
Nog

[Bugle M In]

Great stuff Noggin.
My issue the last 2 years has been (I think) Rust on the leaves.
So bad in fact that last season all my green onions were infected with it.
Not sure if it is in the soil (its a community garden) or if it is from over watering.
But yes, my scapes are out, one or 2 look like they are starting to open up to flower.
But damn, the leaves look real bad with rust right now.
So i am not sure what to do.
And yes, i have been watering, but less the last 2 weeks or so now.

[IronNoggin]

Great stuff Noggin.
My issue the last 2 years has been (I think) Rust on the leaves.
So bad in fact that last season all my green onions were infected with it.
Not sure if it is in the soil (its a community garden) or if it is from over watering.
But yes, my scapes are out, one or 2 look like they are starting to open up to flower.
But damn, the leaves look real bad with rust right now.
So i am not sure what to do.


Post a picture of this "rust" of which you speak...

[Bugle M In]

Here's the image.
Don't think its rust, but definitely has taken over and certainly draining the green out of the leaves quicker than it should.
Happened last year as well.
https://i.imgur.com/nURnZjy.jpg

[IronNoggin]

Took the liberty of cleaning that picture up a bit so I could make it out a little better:

https://i.imgur.com/KPNGLSy.jpg

That there is a classic case of garlic rust alright.

Here are a couple links with suggestions on how to deal with it:

https://www.youngwitness.com.au/story/6882268/winning-the-battle-against-garlic-rust/

https://www2.ipm.ucanr.edu/agriculture/onion-and-garlic/Rust/

https://pnwhandbooks.org/plantdisease/host-disease/garlic-allium-sativum-rust

If it were me, I'd chop off every single leaf that has it, like now!

Best of Luck dealing with it!

Nog

[Bugle M In]

thanks Noggin,

I decided to pull the garlic as the scapes had rust all over them as well.
Many of the plots that have garlic at the garden have it.
Talked to someone else at another garden blocks away said she has rust all over hers as well.
So bad in fact that when i pulled them out, it was like rusty talcum powder where the leaves attach to the main stem.
Way worse than last year.
And yes, started to develop right around the time one would see dramatic growth in the size of the bulbs.
So they definitely are smaller than i had hoped.
Definitely not russian garlic size!, although they should be.

[IronNoggin]

Definitely not russian garlic size!, although they should be.

Ouch!

If growing them again, I'd take a hard look at preventative steps before doing so...

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

Man this Heat Wave sure kicked the garlic into overdrive!
Already they have shrunk by damn near a third, and the lower leaves are browning up fast.
Going to be the earliest harvest we have ever done methinks...

Cheers,
Nog

[Bugle M In]

Ouch!

If growing them again, I'd take a hard look at preventative steps before doing so...

Cheers,
Nog
Yup. for sure and appreciated...thanks.

[Bugle M In]

Man this Heat Wave sure kicked the garlic into overdrive!
Already they have shrunk by damn near a third, and the lower leaves are browning up fast.
Going to be the earliest harvest we have ever done methinks...

Cheers,
Nog
I am watering the tomatoes twice a day right now!!

[IronNoggin]

Between the rather mild winter and the last heat wave, our garlic was ready for harvest yesterday. Earliest it has ever been! I'm OK with that as we will now grow a crop of small turnips in the same bed and they'll have plenty of time to grow to full term.

You can see that the lower 3/4 of the plants have browned up in the following picture. The plants have shrunk by a foot and a half in size as they matured:

https://i.imgur.com/6y4JKvD.jpg
This is what I look for as to timing the harvest - only a few leaves still green right on top:

https://i.imgur.com/FxbPO8z.jpg


The bulbs were all well formed and we again realized a nice average size. Remember, these are all the product of last year's bulbil plantings - that experiment is paying off very well:

https://i.imgur.com/NvPiTUm.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/m0V0jgJ.jpg

Sorted, graded and hung up to cure (the window behind them gets shuttered so they do not see much light):

https://i.imgur.com/hDAXEAO.jpg

...

[IronNoggin]

After having a 4 foot wall of green screening the BarBee / sitting area, it sure looks barren with only the Bubil producers and a couple of late volunteers:

https://i.imgur.com/ixd1b6z.jpg

Last year's Bubil crop, next year's seed, is doing rather well:

https://i.imgur.com/X8PtDxw.jpg

And this year's Bulbil crop - seed for 2 years down the line, are forming up nicely as well:

https://i.imgur.com/xbSupMh.jpg

We'll be harvesting those within a couple weeks I'd guess, which besides putting the garlic into the cold room after they cure, will be a wrap for this season's garlic efforts.

99 in hand again! https://www.tnof.ca/styles/default/xenforo/smilies/Hungey.jpg

Cheers,
Nog

[albravo2]

This thread aways makes my mouth water.

I was hoping this year but we just had too much to do at the new house. Next year for us.

Thanks for taking us along Matt.

[IronNoggin]

... Thanks for taking us along Matt.

You're quite welcome.
This is something I very much enjoy, and so don't mind sharing from time to time.

BTW: If you want some seed stock for this fall, shoot me a pm with your mailing address...

Cheers,
Nog

[wildcatter]

You're quite welcome.
This is something I very much enjoy, and so don't mind sharing from time to time.

BTW: If you want some seed stock for this fall, shoot me a pm with your mailing address...

Cheers,
Nog


Oh can I have some too Matt?
I don't mind paying for it.

[IronNoggin]

Oh can I have some too Matt?

No payment required. I always ensure I have a little too much on hand and don't mind sharing.
Be a day or two before I can send, but shoot me your mailing addy and I certainly will...

Cheers,
Nog

[wildcatter]

No payment required. I always ensure I have a little too much on hand and don't mind sharing.
Be a day or two before I can send, but shoot me your mailing addy and I certainly will...

Cheers,
Nog

Thanks Matt!!!

[guntech]

Is there anything wrong with just using some of ones own harvested crop for next years seeding?

This year is our first time harvesting garlic... we only grew about 15 plants... used the 'crooks' when they appeared... it's been a great success...

[IronNoggin]

Is there anything wrong with just using some of ones own harvested crop for next years seeding?


Absolutely not. That is exactly what most folks do, so fill your boots.

Congrats on the successful experiment by the way!

Cheers,
Nog

[dmaxtech]

Absolutely not. That is exactly what most folks do, so fill your boots.

Congrats on the successful experiment by the way!

Cheers,
Nog

Hey Nog, want to start out planting garlic. When should it be planted and how do you plant yours?

[IronNoggin]

Hey Nog, want to start out planting garlic. When should it be planted and how do you plant yours?

See post number 14 (page 2) in this thread. Complete with pix.

As for timing I generally plant them around the middle of October.

Cheers,
Nog

[IronNoggin]

That time of year once again...

https://i.imgur.com/mSrmpGC.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/wv8eKX6.jpg

Almost set for their winter slumber.
Once a few more leaves hit the ground, they will get their 4 - 5 inch blanket.
Soon...

Nog

[IronNoggin]

And that's a wrap:

https://i.imgur.com/5FkK5VH.jpg