How to understand when garlic is ripe and when to harvest it

Garlic should be harvested when it is fully ripe. To do this, it is important to be able to determine its maturity and store it properly to ensure the long-lasting freshness of the harvest.

Summer House. Garden and Vegetable Garden telegram channel explained that the lower leaves of ripe garlic turn yellow, and the scales become dense and strong. As soon as this happens, summer garlic should be harvested within 5-7 days. The heads that have been overexposed to the ground will not be stored well and may rot.

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The tops should not be allowed to dry out completely, as they come off easily, and the bulb breaks down into cloves. Such garlic is not suitable for long-term storage.

Agronomists also determine the time of harvesting by the arrows of the plant. If the seeds are ripe and the shells of the inflorescences begin to burst, the garlic is ready for digging.

In addition, professionals recommend removing the arrows of garlic when they grow up to 10 cm, otherwise you can't count on a good harvest. Shortly before harvesting, you need to shovel the soil away from the bulbs. This helps the garlic ripen.

When to harvest garlic in 2023 according to the lunar calendar

Gardeners use the lunar calendar for planting and harvesting. As you know, the phases of the moon have an impact on plants and their growth.

In 2023, it is recommended to harvest garlic planted in spring on these days:

• August 25-26;
• September 4-5, 22-23, 26-28.

These dates are considered to be the most favourable, as the garlic will be well stored.

When not to harvest garlic in 2023

According to the lunar calendar, there are unfavourable days for harvesting garlic planted before winter. It is undesirable to dig it on the following dates:

• August 22-24;
• September 1-3, 6, 7, 19-20, 29-30.

If you harvest garlic on these dates, it will not store well and will quickly begin to rot. But for your own use (for food or for preservation), you can harvest it any day.

Earlier, UAportal talked about plants that should not be grown with tomatoes, as this can attract pests, reduce nutrients, or make tomatoes sick.

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