When planted in winter, the vegetable produces large, evenly spaced cloves. Choosing the right harvesting time affects the shelf life and taste of the vegetable. When determining the harvest date, consider the regional climate, the garlic variety, and the lunar calendar.
Why is it important to adhere to cleaning deadlines?
If you dig up the vegetable before the due date, the unripe cloves will be soft. The garlic will rot and store poorly. Early harvesting is advisable if deteriorating weather conditions are expected: if drying procedures are followed, the vegetable will have time to ripen. Preserving the bulbs requires a longer drying period.
Late harvesting also negatively impacts the shelf life of vegetables, as the bulbs may sprout again. The scales may crack, producing clean cloves that don't store well. Overripe vegetables may crumble into pieces right in the soil. If the vegetable crop has experienced a prolonged rainy season or frost, there's a risk of fungal infections and fruit rot.
Signs of garlic maturity
Winter garlic maturity is easy to determine: it's ready for harvest when bulblets form on the stems. Other signs that the crop is ready for harvest include:
- the tops turned yellow and died;
- the neck is thin, the stem is dry at the base;
- the outer films dry out and acquire a color characteristic of the given variety;
- The dried shell of the head is easily separated and produces a rustling sound.
Pull 1-2 bulbs to check their ripeness. Unripe garlic will have difficult peeling and cloves that are difficult to separate. The above factors indicate that the bulbs are technically ripe. The underground part of the garlic has not yet fully formed; this will happen after harvesting and drying. If the bulbs are cracking, they need to be cleaned immediately. dig up garlic, otherwise it may sprout.
When to harvest garlic according to the lunar calendar
To ensure long-term storage, harvest during the waning moon. At this time, the water moves downward, toward the plant's roots. Avoid harvesting during the waxing moon, full moon, and new moon, as the vegetable will not store well. The table below shows favorable days for harvesting garlic planted in winter in 2021 in the Moscow region.
| Month | Unfavorable days | Favorable days | Full moon, new moon |
| July | 11-23 | 1-9, 25-31 | 10, 24 |
| August | 9-21 | 1-7, 23-31 | 8, 22 |
When choosing harvest times, consider not only the moon's phase but also the constellation. Garlic is best harvested when the moon is in the constellations of Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, and Aquarius. Harvesting is not recommended when the moon is in the constellations of Libra, Capricorn, and Scorpio, as the fruit will not store well.
Harvesting dates for individual regions
The climate across Russia's regions varies significantly. Central Russia (Moscow, Yaroslavl, Smolensk, and Bryansk Oblasts) has a moderate continental climate, with summers that can be rainy and cool. In 2021, winter garlic harvesting in the Moscow region is recommended from August 1 to 15. Spring garlic is harvested two weeks after winter garlic.
Due to the risk of frost, garlic planting in the Urals and Siberia is being shifted earlier. Harvesting dates are also shifted, from July 15 to July 31. Garlic planted in the spring is harvested in mid-August. Harvesting dates by region are approximate; refer to the weather forecast when choosing a harvest date. If prolonged rains are expected, it's best to harvest summer and winter garlic 1–2 weeks earlier.
How does weather affect crop harvesting?
It is not recommended to dig up garlic in extremely hot or humid weather. Harvesting garlic after rain will require longer drying times, increasing the risk of fungal infections. Five to seven days should pass between the last rain and harvest. In cold, rainy summers, the harvesting time for spring and winter garlic can be extended by 10 to 15 days.
If you need to harvest vegetables in rainy weather, dig up the immature bulbs carefully, being careful not to damage the moist outer covering. Leave the green material intact. Dried leaves can be removed after 2-3 weeks. After the root collar has dried, dry the garlic for another 10-15 days.
Tips for harvesting and storing crops
A week before harvest, it's recommended to tie the green mass into a knot to allow nutrients to drain into the bulb. The bulb is then half-exposed to the ground, and watering and fertilizing are stopped two weeks before digging. Harvesting garlic from the garden Dry weather is recommended for storage. The heads are dug up with a pitchfork, carefully removed from the soil, and set aside to dry. Do not pull the garlic by the tops, as this can damage the bulb. The stems with the inflorescences should be cut off—this will be used as planting material for the next season.
The dug-up garlic is placed in a shed or under a canopy to dry. Exposing it to direct sunlight is not recommended. The heads are stacked in a single layer, turning periodically to ensure even drying. Drying time depends on weather conditions. In warm, sunny weather, the garlic is ready for storage in 5–7 days.
If the vegetable is exposed to direct sunlight for too long, moisture will be lost, and the garlic will lose its antibacterial properties. Once the vegetables are dry, prepare the bulbs for storage by removing the roots, being careful not to damage the base. The stems should be trimmed so that at least 1 cm remains.
The optimal conditions are a temperature of 8 to 10°C, humidity no higher than 70%, and no drafts. Small and medium-sized bulbs are recommended for winter storage; larger specimens are best consumed immediately. Garlic should be sorted before storage. Possible storage options:
- birch bark baskets;
- cardboard boxes or plastic boxes with holes;
- wicker baskets;
- fabric bags;
- glass jars;
- containers with bulk substances - moss, sawdust, straw;
- mesh, nylon tights.
A small supply can be stored in the refrigerator on the bottom shelf. The vegetable can be stored for up to a year in salt or oil. To make a seasoning, the cloves can be dried in the oven or an electric dehydrator.
They can be stored in the freezer—cut the cloves and place them in ice cube trays. If optimal storage conditions are difficult to maintain, paraffinize the bulbs by dipping them in heated paraffin wax for 2–3 minutes. Avoid storing bulbs with potatoes and carrots, as this will reduce their shelf life.
Frequently asked questions from gardeners
Before storing the bulbs in the cellar, harden them off. Gradually reduce the storage temperature to +5ºC. To protect them from freezing, place them in boxes and cover them with spruce branches, straw, or reeds.
Possible causes of rotting include fungal infections and improper storage. First, sort through the vegetables and remove any damaged ones. Treat the storage containers with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Dry the bulbs and store them again, maintaining proper temperature and humidity conditions. If the vegetables continue to rot, treat them with hot paraffin.
Remove the roots with a flame. Reduce the storage temperature. Ensure there is good ventilation in the room.
Unlike spring garlic, winter garlic is difficult to store until spring. It can be stored indoors for no more than 5 months. Only healthy bulbs, free from disease and pests, should be stored. To enjoy a harvest year-round, plant garlic at different growing seasons.
Favorable days for planting garlic in winter in the Leningrad region in 2021 according to the moon
We choose the days for planting garlic in the Urals in winter in 2021 according to the moon.
Winter garlic planting in the Moscow region: lunar dates for 2020, variety selection, and care