Can I pull garlic a little early?

TZ-OH6 · June 30, 2009

I need the space next week and the garlic is starting to look a little ratty, but it might not be ready for a couple of weeks more. Will it cure OK if I pull it a little early? Same with my shallots, the tops are falling over now, but I read where I should let the tops dry before digging them.

tjg911 · July 1, 2009

i know nothing about shallots.

garlic grows it's bulb in the last 30 days i have been told. so pulling the plant before the bottom 1/2 of the leaves die back is too early. when pulled at the correct time not only are bulbs fully sized but they will store longer assuming they are hardnecks whose scapes were cut at the correct time. allowing the plant to stay too long causes the cloves to burst their wrapper and will reduce storage. it seems to me that if you pull them now (for me this is a good 20 to 27 days too early here in nw ct) would result in very small garlic bulbs, forget using this for seed stock too as the cloves will be small. you can pull a few plants and see the bulb size but i'd say since you got this far and want the garlic why ruin things now just to plant other things.

can you pot up the things that need to be planted? can you plant them in containers or somewhere else?

tom

robin303 · July 1, 2009

Talk to this guy TZ. Tell him Robin sent you.
http://www.bloosquallsgarlicfarm.com/index.htm

TZ-OH6 · July 2, 2009

Thanks guys, I've decided to tear up my Mother's onion plot instead. They weren't growing anyway.

June 30, 2009	#1
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 847	Can I pull garlic a little early? I need the space next week and the garlic is starting to look a little ratty, but it might not be ready for a couple of weeks more. Will it cure OK if I pull it a little early? Same with my shallots, the tops are falling over now, but I read where I should let the tops dry before digging them.

July 1, 2009	#2
tjg911 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: zone 5b northwest connecticut Posts: 2,570	i know nothing about shallots. garlic grows it's bulb in the last 30 days i have been told. so pulling the plant before the bottom 1/2 of the leaves die back is too early. when pulled at the correct time not only are bulbs fully sized but they will store longer assuming they are hardnecks whose scapes were cut at the correct time. allowing the plant to stay too long causes the cloves to burst their wrapper and will reduce storage. it seems to me that if you pull them now (for me this is a good 20 to 27 days too early here in nw ct) would result in very small garlic bulbs, forget using this for seed stock too as the cloves will be small. you can pull a few plants and see the bulb size but i'd say since you got this far and want the garlic why ruin things now just to plant other things. can you pot up the things that need to be planted? can you plant them in containers or somewhere else? tom __________________ I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the end of the night He’s gotta be strong And he’s gotta be fast And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight I need a hero I’m holding out for a hero ‘til the morning light He’s gotta be sure And it’s gotta be soon And he’s gotta be larger than life

July 1, 2009	#3
robin303 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Austin, TX Zone 8b Posts: 531	Talk to this guy TZ. Tell him Robin sent you. http://www.bloosquallsgarlicfarm.com/index.htm

July 2, 2009	#4
TZ-OH6 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mid-Ohio Posts: 847	Thanks guys, I've decided to tear up my Mother's onion plot instead. They weren't growing anyway.