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Garlic gives no loud signal when it is ready, and picking the moment matters. The University of Minnesota says harvesting too early gives small bulbs, and harvesting too late makes the cloves pop out of the bulb.
What three extension services say
Each service describes the same moment in slightly different words, and none gives a single date for everyone.
| Extension service | When | The sign to look for |
|---|---|---|
| University of Minnesota | Late June to late July, depending on variety and climate zone | Lower leaves turn brown while half or slightly more than half of the upper leaves remain green |
| Clemson (South Carolina) | Early summer | Leaves begin to yellow |
| UF/IFAS (Florida) | Not given as a date | About half of the leaves have dried and bent toward the ground |
Read together, the rule of thumb is to harvest when roughly half the leaf area has died back, and to go by the plant rather than the calendar.
Test a bulb before you dig the rest
Minnesota offers a check: pull a few bulbs and cut them in half. If the cloves fill the skins, the bulbs are ready.
After you dig
University of Minnesota Extension says to harvest the whole plant with shoots and bulbs attached, knock off large clumps of soil and put the plants in a warm, dry, airy place for three to four weeks to cure. After curing, cut the shoots one-half to one inch above the bulb and trim the roots close to the base. UF/IFAS adds that dried bulbs should be stored in a cool, dark place.
Before you dig, check off
0 of 5 ready
Sources
- Growing garlic in home gardens — University of Minnesota Extension, checked Oct 22, 2026
- Onion, Leek, Shallot, & Garlic — Clemson Cooperative Extension, checked Oct 22, 2026
- Garlic — UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions, checked Oct 22, 2026