The best time to harvest garlic planted in October is early in the fall. Planting garlic in late summer and early fall helps the cloves establish their root system before the first frost.
This prevents the plants from being damaged by the first frost, and they also have more time to continue growing.
Make sure that the soil stays dry after planting and during the growing season.
Planting garlic in the fall
If you are wondering when to harvest garlic planted in October, the answer may depend on where you live.
Generally speaking, the harvest of autumn-planted garlic takes place about six to eight weeks after the plant is planted.
The first step in harvesting garlic is to remove it from the soil. To do so, carefully use a trowel to loosen the bulbs from the soil. You don’t want to cut the bulbs or leave them in the ground because this will reduce the storage value of the bulbs.
While garlic can be planted in any month, the best time to plant it is when it’s six weeks before the ground freezes. In Michigan, this usually means that planting garlic in October is a great idea. The goal is for the bulbs to produce roots before the ground freezes.
If they begin to produce shoots before they’ve grown roots, they were planted too early, too shallow, or the variety was not suited to the region in which they’re growing.
Some garlic growers also add a layer of straw mulch over the planting to speed up this process. While this method is not very practical for larger plantings, it can be helpful for smaller plantings.
Whether you choose to harvest your garlic in October is up to you and your gardening expertise. If you grow garlic as a hobby or plan to sell it, remember that garlic bulbs are made up of many cloves. It’s best to pick the biggest ones — the larger the clove, the more robust the bulb.
It’s also a good idea to soak your garlic cloves overnight, which will help them sprout faster and protect them from too-wet soil. In order to do this, you’ll need a quart jar filled with water and a few teaspoons of baking soda. Ideally, you’ll be using well water, but distilled water will work.
Garlic is not a high-maintenance plant, but it will need regular watering. In addition, it’s best to mulch it to protect it from cold weather. Leaves from the yard will make a great mulch. In the winter, garlic will go dormant. Then, in early spring, it will come back to life.
Storage of harvested garlic
Harvesting garlic is an important part of garlic preparation. The bulbs should be ready for harvest when half of their leaves have turned yellow. Harvesting should occur between mid-July and early November. Once the garlic is ready, it should be cured in a cool, dry location for several weeks. If the bulbs have become papery or moldy, discard them immediately. Different varieties of garlic mature at different times, so make sure to check the maturity of the garlic before harvesting.
Garlic planted in October should be stored at a temperature of 50 degrees Fahrenheit and 60 percent relative humidity. This temperature will help the cloves grow their roots and shoots and continue to mature. In early spring, the plants will re-grow new leaves. The garlic bulb will mature when the day length increases to fourteen hours.
Store harvested garlic in a cool, dark place. The temperature should be between 40 and 50 degrees F (3 to 10 degrees C). Avoid putting the garlic in plastic or a refrigerator. Store your garlic in a paper or mesh bag in a dark and cool place. Avoid bright light or extreme humidity, which may encourage sprouting and damage the bulb.
After harvest, you can start using it immediately or store it in the refrigerator for up to eight weeks. The harvesting time depends on the variety and storage quality. Hardneck garlic has a stiff flower stalk that makes it easier to peel. It is more winter-hardy than soft neck garlic but has a shorter shelf life.
Once you have harvested your garlic, you can dry it. Drying can be done using a pallet or wire mesh. Bundles of 10 to twelve plants are best when hung. Place a string or twine around the bundle to hold it securely. Once the stems dry, the garlic should be allowed to dry completely before moving to a well-ventilated place. Once completely dried, you can brush the garlic heads to remove dirt.
Curing garlic will prolong its shelf life and increase its flavor. Curing garlic must be dried in a dark, shady area, and should not be exposed to light or moisture. It should be allowed to cure for three to four weeks before it is ready for use. In addition, the garlic should be stored at a temperature between 32 and 35 degrees Fahrenheit. Otherwise, it may sprout.
Planting garlic in a dry location with low humidity
To know when to harvest garlic planted in October in low humidity, dry location, and a well-prepared seed bed, remember that the plant will send up a seed stalk known as the scape, which needs to be removed to encourage the formation of a bulb. The scape is edible and can be added to soups, stir-fries, or scrambled eggs. You can also blend it with olive oil to make pesto.
Garlic planted in autumn will start to establish its root system before the first freeze, allowing it to continue growing until the first frost. Planting in the fall will allow cloves to establish their roots before the first freeze of the season, and they will begin developing shoots and roots again in early autumn. The soil should remain dry after planting and during the growing season.
The lower third of the leaves of the garlic plant will begin to turn brown and papery, signaling the bulb is ready to be harvested. If you do not see this sign, the plant is too young and is at risk of disease. It’s best to harvest it as early as possible, as waiting until the leaves are brown and papery will reduce its shelf life. If you notice that the garlic is beginning to get moldy or has lost its green leaves, discard it immediately. The maturity period of different garlic varieties varies.
To prevent fungal diseases from destroying your crop, make sure to keep your soil dry and well-draining. You can also fertilize your garlic in the spring with a nitrogen-based fertilizer. This will provide the plants with the nutrients they need, but it won’t harm the soil. Another beneficial option is to apply organic fertilizer. Some manufacturers provide organic fertilizer mixes containing alfalfa meals, kelp meals, feather meals, and compost crumbles.
In zones 0 to 4, planting garlic in late August or early October is ideal. In zones 5 to 8, planting garlic from mid-October to mid-November is recommended. Zones 9 to 10 are best planted during late November or early December, before the ground freezes. You can learn about the planting zone in your area by entering your zip code on the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website.
Fertilizing garlic
Fertilizing garlic planted in October can make the difference between a successful crop and a failure.
If you don’t want to plant more garlic in the spring, fertilize your plants in autumn or winter with a nitrogen-based fertilizer. You can use Bio-Fish, All-Purpose, or Phyta-Grow Leafy Green Special Fertilizer.
You can also use a blood meal, feather meal, or fish meal to provide your garlic with nitrogen. It’s also important to mulch your garlic in colder climates. Mulching will help conserve water, control weeds, and help even out soil temperatures.
The right fertilizer for garlic depends on the type of soil that it’s growing in. In general, it should have high levels of phosphorous and potassium.
Soil testing at your OSU Extension office can help determine which nutrients are needed for your site.
In general, soils with a high level of organic matter require fewer nutrients than others. However, high levels of organic matter can make your bulbs look discolored.
The planting date of garlic depends on your climate and location. The goal is to get the roots established before winter sets in.
This date can vary from mid-September to late November, depending on your growing conditions. If you’re planting garlic in the fall, plant it 2-4 inches deep. You can also use a bulb planter to quickly plant garlic.
Phosphorus is essential for the growth and development of bulbs. While there are naturally occurring mineral elements in the soil, the garlic plant needs an extra boost.
In October, you’ll want to fertilize it regularly to ensure maximum growth. You can also fertilize with organic seaweed fertilizers. These contain trace elements like magnesium, potassium, zinc, and iron.
Harvesting Garlic
Garlic is a hardy plant that thrives in cool climates. It grows best in moist soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0.
If you live in a temperate climate, you can plant seed garlic in October or early January. Make sure you break the garlic bulb into individual cloves before planting. Plant the cloves one inch deep, root side up. You should also use compost when planting garlic seeds.
Fertilizing garlic planted in October is important to ensure a successful harvest.
In order to ensure the highest quality bulb possible, you need to ensure the soil has enough phosphorus and nitrogen.
If your soil doesn’t have adequate amounts of these elements, you can use high-nitrogen fertilizers instead. You should also avoid over-watering your plants, which can wash away vital nutrients.